Marine Mammal Care Center

A champion for abandoned and sick marine mammals

Written by Laura Roe Stevens | Photographed by Siri Berting

San Pedro-based Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC)—the only urgent care facility treating Los Angeles County marine mammals 365 days a year—is needed now more than ever. The 31-year-old organization has grown exponentially to provide critical care to growing numbers of sick or abandoned marine mammals.

To date, 10,000 animals have been given crucial veterinary care, food and shelter by its dedicated team of staff and volunteers. According to John Warner, the CEO of MMCC, 300 to 400 marine mammals are rescued each year and rehabilitated at the hospital facility.

While those numbers are impressive, they have been rising dramatically this year. Why? In the first six months of 2023, there was an influx of abandoned baby elephant seals on beaches throughout Los Angeles County. This required massive amounts of fish and manpower, exhausting MMCC reserves and volunteers.

“This is the year of elephant seal pups,” says Warner. “We have had over 280 total patients come through the hospital already this year (January through July).”

Experts point to storms as a factor, as they can separate pups from their moms. Whatever the reason, they are here and they need care—and lots of fish.

“We have gone through more fish this year than we budgeted for because elephant seal pups eat much more than sea lions,” explains Warner. “A baby elephant seal needs to be chunky, so when they are emaciated, it takes a lot of fish to get them back on track. We have already gone through 150,000 pounds of fish and need more.”

Adding to this emergency, an influx of sick mammals began appearing in June along Southern California shores with red tide poisoning. A type of algae blooms in warmer waters, causing red tide. It was at high levels, sickening dolphins, sea lions and elephant seals with domoic acid toxicity.

By the end of June, MMCC was striving to assist with the red tide crisis while also juggling lengthy care for hundreds of elephant seal pups. Luckily, the seal pups have “no known underlying health issues, other than being separated from moms prematurely,” Warner says.

MMCC volunteers “mother” the pups in a makeshift “fish school” as pups learn to forage for food from their mothers. Due to early separation, the babies were washed ashore emaciated, stressed and malnourished—without the ability to hunt for food.

“We focus on giving them a stress-free environment and then teach them how to eat a fish,” explains Warner. This requires many volunteers, as seal pups don’t even recognize fish as food. Volunteers begin by putting fish into the mouths of pups so they recognize it as a yummy treat. Then they teach them how to hunt.

“We dangle fish in front of their face, or we dangle a fish on the ground so it looks like it’s alive,” says Warner. “It takes a couple of weeks, and it is a labor-intensive job. We’ve got great staff and volunteers.”

At press time, MMCC had received a challenge grant of $175,000 to purchase more food. The organization is challenged to raise another $175,000 by year-end to receive the full grant. “All donations made for the remainder of 2023 in support of fish will be matched dollar for dollar!” Warner says.

“Ninety percent of our operating revenue comes from individuals and foundations,” explains Warner. “We were blessed with a $1 million donation from Richard and Melanie Lundquist—the largest single donation in our history—in recognition of our 30th anniversary last fall.”

As summer vacationers hit Los Angeles beaches, Warner stresses the vital importance of keeping a safe distance (50 to 350 feet) away from grounded marine life and alerting a lifeguard. “Wildlife are not pets,” he says. “If they interact with humans, they can pose a real threat and may bite. When they do, authorities will euthanize them.”

If a lifeguard isn’t present, call the MMCC hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE. And remember, attention distresses the animals. “You shouldn’t interact at all. These animals need rest, and when people are interacting, they can’t relax and get stressed.”

Visit marinemammalcare.org to learn how to donate or volunteer.