SeaLife Updates: March 2022 Edition
Entangled Fur Seal Set Free! 
After being rescued from an entanglement in the San Juan Islands in January, this Guadalupe fur seal came to the rescue center to heal from his injuries. He soon earned the nickname Kazoo due to his unique voice - click to listen to this fur seal speaking his mind!
In the wild, Guadalupe fur seals use these vocalizations to defend their territory from other males, and spend most of their time alone at sea unless they are breeding. Close to extinction in the early 1900’s, Guadalupe fur seals are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Because of their protection under U.S and Mexican laws, their population is now above 30,000 animals. 
Thankfully, this special seal recovered quickly, gained weight, and then headed back to the ocean with your help! A big thank you to the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network who helped make sure he got a second chance.
Year-round Rescues Abound While winter is generally a quieter season for marine animals in need, several have continued to arrive at the SeaLife Rescue Center over the past few months.
Many of our winter harbor seal patients like Aurora (pictured below) were admitted because they were found lethargic and coughing on populated beaches. This is often a sign of lungworm, a parasite that inhabits the lungs of marine mammals. It makes it harder for them to breathe and can even lead to death. 
Aurora arrived at the rescue center in December suffering from lungworms as well as malnutrition.
Thanks to caring people like you, Aurora received treatment to clear her of the parasites (and plenty of fish to give her a little extra insulation!) before she was returned to the wild.
Rare Winter Data Collected 
This image was collected using a remotely controlled octocopter drone that was flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales in January 2022 under NMFS Research Permit # 22306. Earlier this year, we had a rare winter experience with L pod from the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. It allowed us to get images of the 28 whales encountered, which will give us January body condition data for the first time in our years-long dataset!
Pictured here is one of the aerial images taken of the L pod in January. This group is being led by the population’s oldest member (L25, estimated to be over 90 years old) and also includes its youngest member (one-year-old L125). Year-round data on the health of K and L pods is an important data gap that needs filling in order to support management efforts that will maintain adequate salmon prey for the whole population throughout the year.
A Volunteer's Journey to Environmental Activism 
SR³ volunteer Denis tosses fish to some of our harbor seal patients at the rescue center. Photo: Andrew Burton On May 15, 1994, eight-year-old Denis Tuzinovic and his mom fled Bosnia and Herzegovina to escape war and genocide.
Support from community organizations and experiences in wilderness areas along the way forged what he describes as his commitment to fight for environmental and human rights, forever. SR³ is honored to be a part of Denis’s journey advancing environmental causes.
Ocean Hero Happenings 
Spring Clean at the Beach with us! April 15, 10 a.m.- noon
Come get your spring cleaning urges out at the beach!
On Friday, April 15th, we’ll be cleaning up trash from Alki Beach in West Seattle.
No registration is needed - just meet us at the Statue of Liberty on Alki Beach at 10 a.m. Please email us if you have any questions.
Thank you for helping make the beach a safer place for the harbor seal pups who will be arriving on our shorelines soon! 
Deep Green Wilderness Teen Sailing Programs
Do you have adventurous teens in your life?
Our partners at Deep Green Wilderness voyage through the Salish Sea each summer, connecting with the ocean through sailing and whale conservation.
Spaces are available on their multi-week summer sailing trips for 15-18 year olds, and scholarships are available for the programs.
Join Our Team!
The busy season is just around the corner, and we need to grow our animal care team. Check out the Veterinary Nurse and Animal Husbandry Assistant positions on our website to learn more.
We are also looking for interns! Interns are integral to the work that SR³ does, both at the rescue center and in the field.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain hands-on experience in marine conservation!
SeaLife Rescue Center Celebrating One Year! On Earth Day, April 22, the SeaLife Rescue Center will be celebrating its first anniversary of helping marine animals in need! 
If you can, will you help us celebrate 12 months of saving lives with a monthly gift of $12?
Thank you for helping rescue and protect even more marine animals in need this year!
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