World Vets has been providing emergency treatment for a Guadalupe fur seal at our marine mammal urgent care facility in Gig Harbor, Washington. Guadalupe fur seals are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This malnourished male pup has been in our care since Wednesday and was brought in from Cannon Beach, Oregon where he originally stranded. He’s been steadily improving over the last couple days. It’s a team effort by the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network to care for these patients and the response, treatment and rehabilitation are done under a permit issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Portland State University and Seaside Aquarium received the call and picked up the pup in Oregon, which was then transported to World Vets by SR3 who also helped with the initial care and is arranging transport logistics. The pup was transferred today on a private flight thanks to the Turtles Fly Too organization on his way to The Marine Mammal Center in California for long term rehabilitation with the goal of being released back into the wild as soon as he is fully recovered. To report a dead, injured or stranded marine mammal along the West Coast, please call the NOAA stranding hotline at 1-866-767-6114. Big thanks to our supporters who help make this important work possible.
