TimesOC Check-in: Pacific Marine Mammal Center prepares for busiest season for sea animal rescues

Our leaders remind us that it’s important to check in with each other, even as we’re sheltering at home and practicing responsible social distancing. In this ongoing series, TimesOC checks in with small businesses and nonprofits in Orange County during the coronavirus pandemic.

What: Pacific Marine Mammal Center

When: Founded in 1971

Where: 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

Background: The Pacific Marine Mammal Center was founded in 1971 as the first marine mammal rehabilitation facility in California. Operating out of a small space, the staff and volunteers rescue and rehabilitate aquatic mammals to release them back into the ocean.

The nonprofit does important work rescuing injured animals, including a sea lion pup that miraculously survived a 30-foot drop from a bridge over a highway in December.

The facility has a visitor yard where the public can see the rehabilitating animals. The center also holds educational classes for children.

Current status: The center is taking precautions to protect the public and its volunteers, closing its visitor yard about two weeks ago.

“For the safety of the public and also a lot of our education docents are in that older age range,” said Krysta Higuchi, events and public relations coordinator. “We wanted to protect exposure to our volunteers as much as the public.”

The center has also severely limited the amount of staff working onsite, with education and development staff working from home and “skeleton crews” taking care of the animals at the facility. There are currently 31 animals at the center, though that number will increase because it’s entering “busy season.”

The crews working onsite are using masks and practicing social distancing — one person in the fish room at a time, one person cleaning the pens at a time. The center asked animal care members over the age of 65 to stay home.

The center is also now offering free distance learning programs that educate people about marine mammals from home. To sign up, visit pacificmmc.org/free-programs.

Challenges: With less staff working onsite, it could be difficult for the center to deal with the amount of animals that may eventually end up in its care. Rescues are expected to ramp up over the next few months as the busiest season of the year begins for the center.

“We are starting to pick up on rescues,” Higuchi said. “So that’s been very difficult only having four people down in animal care as opposed to six or eight people in animal care per shift.”

The center has the capacity to care for 125 animals, though Higuchi said that number is “fluid.” A couple of years ago, the facility went over its capacity. This year, Higuchi said they may have to lower the number due to the smaller crews.

With some beaches closed to help quell the spread of the virus, fewer animals in need of rescue may be reported to the center.

“We are very dependent on lifeguards and the public letting us know when these animals are out there,” Higuchi said. “So it’s kind of like if nobody is out there, then we don’t get reports of the animal. We don’t want people to be out there obviously. But it’s going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.”

Higuchi said the facility’s animal control coordinator is constantly checking in with the lifeguard crews and animal control, though their crews are operating in small numbers as well.

What would help: ”We are hoping for the best but being closed financially has been very hard on us,” Higuchi said. “We are trying to do a lot more virtual type of interactions to get people involved. We are struggling just as much as any other small business or restaurant.”

Higuchi said while the center’s largest fundraiser — which accounts for about 25% of the annual budget — isn’t until October, the planning for the event has stalled along with the auction item donations, sponsorships and ticket sales.

Higuchi said the center is also in need of supply donations.

“I know it’s scarce out there for a lot of people but we can always use bleach, paper towels, gloves and Pedialyte,” Higuchi said. “Those extra supplies are a huge help.”

People can donate at bit.ly/2WZuJCn. The center will also be hosting a few virtual fundraisers soon. Information on those events can be found at pacificmmc.org.

Overall mood: Higuchi said the staff is hopeful and taking it day by day. In particular, she said it was encouraging hearing reassuring comments from supporters on social media.

However, the work can take a toll, especially when coupled with the challenges of the pandemic.

About a week ago, two animals rescued by the center died after becoming hypoglycemic and hypothermic. One of the sea lions, which was 9 months old, was only 18 pounds. Higuchi said sea lions usually weigh about 60 to 70 pounds at that age.

“It was definitely a very rough day, but we had a lot of our team members give us good words of encouragement; everybody is trying to lift each other up,” Higuchi said. “We are very appreciative of the well wishes and high spirits.”

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