Spring/Summer 2026 Availability March 5 - August 31: 3:00 pm Daily   Duration: Approximately 30-minute tour Maximum of 6 people per tour - Open to all ages All brain, no bones! Immerse yourself in a world of suckers and beaks. Go behind the scenes and join a member of our Aquarium Team to participate in an octopus feeding and learn more about these fascinating creatures. One Group Per Tour Group Size of 1-2 Guests: $289.95 Group Size of 3 Guests: $339.95 Group Size of 4 Guests: $389.95 Group Size of 5 Guests: $439.95 Group Size of 6 Guests: $489.95 Members get a 20% discount, buy your membership today and use the benefits immediately.  (does not include admission) *Guests under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult Tickets only valid for date selected. Online tickets must be purchased at least one day in advance.    

Today, on World Oceans Day, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) would like to tell the story of Zippy. Many Seward residents rightfully expressed concern about the sea otter in Resurrection Bay with a pink zip tie embedded around his paw this spring. While residents and ASLC staff were aware of the injured otter for months, catching a robust, male sea otter who can swim and dive is an incredible challenge. Both ASLC staff and locals spent hours daily looking for the otter trying to pinpoint his routine and whereabouts. On May 25th he was finally caught. ASLC staff, individuals from University of Alaska Fairbanks, and crew from the R/V Sikuliaq worked for over 4 hours trying to approach him and eventually net him off the stern of the research vessel. He was quickly transported to ASLC where veterinarians found that unfortunately, he sustained a very serious bone infection that could take months to heal. “Likely, Zippy's paw will never be the same, but we hope he will overcome the infection, show that he can forage normally, and be released back to Resurrection Bay.  We appreciate all the calls and support from local Sewardites as we monitored him this spring,” states Wildlife Response Curator, Jane Belovarac.    ASLC staff is doing everything they can to keep him comfortable and treat his infection, but there are significant challenges with housing an adult sea otter especially due to the financial hardships brought on by COVID-19. While the Center is thankful for partners like Sea Otter Foundation and Partners4Wildlife, many sponsors were understandably unable to offer support this year. Zippy, who is currently about 65 lbs, is being treated with daily antibiotics and other medication and eats around 18-20 lbs of shellfish a day, which adds up to be very expensive.   One way to help Zippy and other wildlife response patients is to donate to the Wildlife Response Program at: www.alaskasealife.org/donate   People can also symbolically adopt a sea otter in ASLC care at: https://alaskaanimalrescue.org/adopt-an-animal/   Sharing this story on World Oceans Day is important because while Zippy’s circumstances are disheartening, he brings a powerful message that we need to protect our Alaskan wildlife. Zippy is a victim of marine debris. It is every individual's responsibility to secure any type of plastic waste whether for personal or commercial use. Reduce plastic use when possible, keep track of trash, cut zip ties when done, and consider using biodegradable alternatives to plastic ties for short term tasks. There are many little things each and every one of us can do to make a big difference for marine life in Alaska.   Photo credit goes to @raven_song_photography   Please contact media@alaskasealife.org for any additional media requests regarding this story.

The annual ASLC Staff and Volunteer Awards were presented by President and CEO Tara Riemer and Human Resources Manager Amy Komarek last Friday. Join us in recognizing again these well-deserving, dedicated employees, volunteers, and service partners! * Recognition of 15-, 10-, and 5-year employee service: Chip Arnold, Operations Director (15); Brett Long, Husbandry Manager (10); Nancy Deel, Marketing & Events Coordinator (5); and Ricky Deel, Lead Exhibit Designer (5) - (photo forthcoming)   * Service Award in appreciation for serving as Junior Board Member: Keefer Brown     * President’s Award for outstanding individual staff contribution to the mission of the ASLC: Nancy Anderson, Senior Development Manager     * Ned Smith Teamwork Award for outstanding teamwork and successful completing a task that is a mission critical priority for the Alaska SeaLife Center: The entire ASLC staff     * Planet Blue Partner Award recognizing an outstanding partner contribution to the mission of the ASLC: Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz (accepted by Shelby Burman, ASLC Mammalogist)     * Planet Blue Staff Award recognizing an ASLC staff member for their exceptional contribution to science, education or stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems: ASLC Education Department’s Distance Learning Team (accepted by Alex Havens, Education Specialist)     * Unsung Hero Award for making a consistently important contribution to ASLC day-to-day operational effectiveness: Jane Belovarac, Clinical Veterinary Technician     * Unsung Hero Award for making a consistently important contribution to ASLC day-to-day operational effectiveness: Lisa Hartman, Husbandry Manager     * Cindy Ecklund Volunteer of the Year Award for outstanding volunteer service: Deb Magruder

Seward, Alaska (January 19, 2021) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) announces the nomination period for the 2021 Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards has been extended to January 28, 2021. ASLC established the Awards to recognize those who have made significant contributions to ocean sciences, education, and resource management in Alaska. Awards will be presented at a virtual event in March, 2021. The award categories are as follows: Walter J. & Ermalee Hickel Lifetime Achievement Award: Awarded to an individual or institution that has made an exceptional contribution to management of Alaska’s coastal and ocean resources over a period of 20 or more years. $1000 cash prize. Sponsored by the late Governor Walter J. and the late Ermalee Hickel. Stewardship & Sustainability Award: Awarded to an industry initiative that demonstrates the highest commitment to sustainability of ocean resources. Sponsored by Jason Brune. Marine Research Award: Awarded to a scientist, team of scientists, or an institution that is acknowledged by peers to have made an original breakthrough contribution or a career spanning achievement in any field of scientific knowledge about Alaska’s oceans. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Dr. Clarence Pautzke and Dr. Maureen McCrea. Marine Science Outreach Award: Awarded to a person, team, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ocean literacy via formal or informal education, media, or other communications about Alaska’s marine ecosystems. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Alaska Ocean Observing System. Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award: Awarded to an individual or team of Alaskan youth up to age 19 who has displayed dedication to promoting the understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s oceans. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Dale Hoffman. To make a nomination for any of these awards, visit our website www.alaskasealife.org or email oceanawards@alaskasealife.org. About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org. 

The Alaska SeaLife Center admitted a northern fur seal pup to the Wildlife Response Program on January 31, 2023. Fur seals are relatively uncommon wildlife response patients, and have not been cared for at the ASLC since 2017.   The female pup, estimated to be around six months old, was seen swimming erratically near the shore in Sitka, Alaska. Her abnormal behavior worried local residents, who reported the pup to the ASLC 24-hour stranding hotline (1-888-774-7325). Sitka is an unusual location to see northern fur seals this time of year, which raised concerns for her survival by ASLC staff. After receiving approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the animal was transported to the Center for treatment.   The main concerns found by the ASLC veterinary team upon the initial admit exam were dehydration, malnourishment, and signs of an unknown infection found in her bloodwork. Despite these concerns, she was observed to be active and alert when handled. The team found no evidence of severe physical trauma; however, noted that the pup seems smaller than average for her age. Staff are currently providing initial treatments and examining the patient further to understand more details about her condition.    The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from federal grants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. Those interested are encouraged to contribute to the care of rehabilitating marine animals here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of its Wildlife Response Program from companies like ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Matson, PetZoo, GCI, and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as The Stanley J. Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, and The NC Giving Fund.         

Overview Our Science Mission The overall goal of our Science Program is to develop an understanding of the role of marine mammals, birds and fish in the arctic and subarctic marine ecosystems, and to generate scientific knowledge relevant to resource management and policy. Our projects focus on Alaska marine life and environments, but reach globally with international collaborations. The Center’s unique geographic location, marine cold water research facilities, live animal collections, and specialized staff allows us to use a combination of experimental and field research to:  Investigate physiological and ecological processes affecting marine animal population  dynamics.  Conduct controlled experiments to understand factors affecting reproductive success and  fitness in marine species.  Monitor marine animal responses to environmental variability and stressors.  Evaluate human impacts on our marine environment and animal populations.  Develop tools to support recovery and restoration of marine resources.   Thus, an overarching science theme of our science relates to understanding of upper trophic level responses to environmental variability. Under this concept, we use marine mammals, seabirds, and fish as windows into the ecosystem they inhabit. As the arctic and subarctic are undergoing rapid environmental changes, understanding responses of these species to change is becoming urgently more important. A more holistic understanding of upper trophic species role in the arctic and subarctic marine ecosystems is essential, and our science team is developing research programs and partnerships towards integrated marine ecosystem studies to address these emerging broad scale topics.  Staff and Facilities    The CSEO works closely with the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to periodically review research accomplishments, as well as programmatic research directions and strategies. Our current permanent research staff includes two in-house principal investigators, two affiliate scientists, two research associates, and several technical and research support staff.  One of our principal investigators holds a research faculty positions at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Our three center veterinarians also participate in many research activities. Additionally, our facilities offer research opportunities to post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, visiting scientists, and affiliate researchers and external collaborators. Over the years, we have hosted over 700 visiting scientists at our facility. Our facility is located on the shore of the Gulf of Alaska in the North Pacific Ocean, with access to the Alaska marine environment from our back door. We are located next to the Seward Marine Center of the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, and the home port of the new global class ice-capable research vessel R/V Sikuliaq, operated by UAF. Our dry and wet indoor laboratories and our large outdoor research deck offer year-round access to either temperature-controlled or ambient-temperature research opportunities in cold marine or fresh water habitats. The laboratory facilities and equipment are outfitted to conduct research on marine animal physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, energetics, and diet analysis. Our resident animal collection involves a diverse variety of marine organisms from tiny invertebrates to large Steller sea lions. Our largest resident, male Steller sea lion Pilot, peaks at well over 1700 lbs during the breeding season. The resident fauna offers scientists opportunities to study animals year-round in their natural salt water habitats and at ambient northern latitude temperatures. The combination of our location, in-house collection of marine mammals, seabirds, and fish, and our laboratory facilities offers scientists unique opportunities to study the marine life of the North.    Other Department Activities Linked to our scientific goals, we work closely with our education team to integrate science components into education conducted at the Center. Most of our science projects are presented either in the public exhibits of the Center, or as part of special outreach programs offered by our education department. The Center offers unique opportunities to inform and engage the public on our research. Every year, our scientists give as many as 60 outreach presentations to the public, and we host a monthly open science seminar series at the Center.    To learn more about our scientists and current projects, we invite you to Meet our Scientists and explore our Science Spotlight.   Brief History of the Science Department The Science Department has been part of the Alaska SeaLife Center since its opening in 1998. Over the years, the department has developed a strong focus on research in biology, physiology, and ecology of marine mammals, seabirds, and fish – the so-called upper trophic species of the marine environment. During the first decade, much of our research was centered around five species-focused research programs involving Steller sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, spectacled and Steller’s eiders, and Pacific salmon. These programs built a strong emphasis on research in the physiology and biology of upper trophic species amongst our staff and infrastructure. To date, our research staff has authored close to 400 journal publications and delivered over 700 scientific presentations at conferences.   

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) announces the opening of the nomination period for the 2022 Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards. ASLC established the Awards to recognize those who have made significant contributions to ocean sciences, education, and resource management in Alaska. Nominations for the 2022 Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards are open now through December 10, 2021.      The award categories are as follows: Walter J. & Ermalee Hickel Lifetime Achievement Award: Awarded to an individual or institution that has made an exceptional contribution to management of Alaska’s coastal and ocean resources over a period of 20 or more years. $1,000 cash prize. Sponsored by the late Governor Walter J. and the late Ermalee Hickel. Stewardship & Sustainability Award: Awarded to an industry initiative that demonstrates the highest commitment to sustainability of ocean resources. Sponsored by Jason Brune. Marine Research Award: Awarded to a scientist, team of scientists, or an institution that is acknowledged by peers to have made an original breakthrough contribution or a career spanning achievement in any field of scientific knowledge about Alaska’s oceans. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Dr. Clarence Pautzke and Dr. Maureen McCrea. Marine Science Outreach Award: Awarded to a person, team, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ocean literacy via formal or informal education, media, or other communications about Alaska’s marine ecosystems. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Alaska Ocean Observing System. Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award: Awarded to an individual or team of Alaskan youth ages 12-19 who has displayed dedication to promoting the understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s oceans. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Dale Hoffman. To make a nomination for any of these awards, visit the Alaska SeaLife Center website https://www.alaskasealife.org/alaska_ocean_leadership_awards or email oceanawards@alaskasealife.org. About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.

Seward, Alaska (March 25, 2024) – The Alaska SeaLife Center Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. Wei Ying Wong has accepted the role of President and CEO. Dr. Wong is an experienced executive with a passion for marine science. She is a visionary leader who brings an array of skills and experience, from her deep roots in interdisciplinary and multicultural conservation and education to her extraordinary leadership in advancing equity in zoo and aquarium communities nationally and abroad. Dr. Wong will become President and CEO on March 31.   “I am thrilled that Dr. Wong will be leading the Alaska SeaLife Center,” said ASLC Board Chair Josie Hickel. “Dr. Wong will continue to be a champion of science and research as part of ASLC’s renewed emphasis on delivering its mission in the face of impacts to Alaska’s marine ecosystems from climate change and other environmental factors.” Dr. Wong was chosen after an extensive search that attracted a diverse field of highly qualified candidates. In making its selection, the Board cited Dr. Wong’s passion for ASLC’s mission, her strong organizational leadership experience fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture, and her depth of experience cultivating strategic partnerships that amplify mission impact. “Leading the Center in fulfilling its mission is dear to my heart,” said Dr. Wong. “I was originally attracted to the ASLC because of its reputation for groundbreaking research and the potential in the mission. Over time, my commitment to the organization has deepened as I grew to know the staff and community. The ASLC has the capacity to serve as a formidable science enterprise at the scale it promised at its founding. I truly believe we can become a new driving force for positive global change.” Dr. Wong joined ASLC and the community of Seward in December 2021 when she stepped into her role as ASLC’s Chief Science and Education Officer (CSEO). As CSEO, Dr. Wong reenergized and expanded the science and education programs, working closely with the CEO, Board, and staff to develop and implement a visionary science agenda. Dr. Wong’s efforts to amplify scientific and organizational impact through collaborative grants and fundraising, including successfully launching the Community Organized Restoration and Learning (CORaL) Network, has yielded substantial benefits for ASLC and the community.  Dr. Wong’s experience includes serving in executive roles at the Washington Sea Grant, Woodland Park Zoo, and the Philadelphia Zoo. As an industry leader, Dr. Wong has a strong record of talks, publications, and service. She has received numerous awards and fellowships and is a 2019 graduate of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium Executive Leadership Development Program. “The Board is grateful for the leadership of Dr. Tara Riemer who has served the Center for 20 years, the last 12 years as President and CEO,” Hickel said. “Under her leadership, the Center has grown and developed into a world-class organization providing education, research, and programs that have improved our knowledge of Alaska’s unique marine environment. We are confident that Dr. Wong is the right leader to continue growing ASLC’s leadership in stewarding Alaska’s marine health.” About ASLC  Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org. 

The Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program has admitted two premature harbor seal pups from Kenai, Alaska. Despite incredible efforts, one pup has passed away and the other is in serious condition.   The ASLC is currently caring for a premature female harbor seal pup admitted on May 9, 2024, found abandoned and malnourished in Kenai, Alaska. The pup is still covered in its white lanugo coat, indicating a premature birth.  This is the Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program’s second premature harbor seal patient admitted this season, as another premature pup was admitted on April 24, 2024, from Nikiski, Alaska. Despite the ASLC team’s incredible effort, the first premature harbor seal patient became critical and passed away within 48 hours of being admitted. A necropsy revealed that the pup was likely born weeks prematurely and his organs weren’t developed enough to allow him to thrive. The current patient, admitted on May 9, 2024, is in serious condition. Community members working at a fish processing facility in Kenai called the ASLC 24-hour Wildlife Response Hotline to report that a small white-furred pup had been on their property for several hours without seeing an adult nearby. Community members who first spotted her in Kenai, Alaska reported a malnourished and abandoned harbor seal pup to the ASLC 24-hour Wildlife Response Hotline. NOAA officers responded and confirmed that there was no mother in sight. They knew that the pup was prematurely born, as indicated by her white lanugo coat, and that she likely wouldn’t survive without immediate intervention. After receiving approval from NOAA, the pup was transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center for treatment by the officers. The main concerns found by the veterinary team upon her initial admit exam were malnourishment, low body temperature, and abnormal bloodwork results indicating this seal was premature. The team is currently providing initial stabilizing treatments and examining the patient further to understand the severity of the animal’s condition. Premature harbor seal pups have only about a 50% chance of survival when admitted to a wildlife response program, and the team is doing everything possible to give her a fighting chance.  Harbor seal pups typically shed their white lanugo coat in utero before being born, so any time a pup of this species is seen with a white coat, it indicates that it was born prematurely. However, this isn’t true for all species of seals in Alaska. Ice seal pups, like spotted and ringed seals, are born with white lanugo coats and do not shed them for four to six weeks after birth. Location helps experts know which species of seal pup they are looking at in Alaska. Typically, the ice seal species normally born with a white lanugo coat are found in the northern half of Alaska’s coastline. Harbor seals are typically found along the southern half of Alaska’s coastline.   The ASLC will share updates on this delicate patient’s progress on their Facebook and Instagram pages.    Call first! Before approaching an injured or stranded marine animal in Alaska, call the  24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL(7325).  The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. If you are interested in contributing to the care of these patients, visit the ASLC’s website: www.alaskasealife.org/donate. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund.                     

The rare rescued Pacific walrus calf admitted to the ASLC wildlife response program in July of 2024 has foudn her longterm home and is now under the expert care of SeaWorld Orlando’s renowned animal care specialists. The calf, which was found orphaned and abandoned on the beaches of Utqiagvik, Alaska, has been named Ukiaq, which translates to “autumn” in the language of the Iñupiaq people who live in the area of northern Alaska where she was first found. Ukiaq – or Uki (pronounced “oo-kee”) as she is affectionately being called – brings the Alaskan spirit with her to Orlando, honoring the rich culture and traditions of the Alaskan Native peoples. After receiving life-saving rehabilitative care from the ASLC and being deemed non-releasable by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Uki arrived at her long-term home SeaWorld Orlando on September 18, weighing approximately 220 pounds and ready to continue her care. SeaWorld Orlando was chosen as Uki’s new home because of the staff’s experience with walrus care, and the overall walrus herd at SeaWorld Orlando allows for the best nurturing environment for her overall care and development, including a female walrus that is capable of acting as a surrogate to Uki. The specialized care Uki is receiving at SeaWorld is part of the park’s long-standing commitment to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. SeaWorld’s animal care specialists are working closely with veterinarians to ensure Uki’s needs continue to be met, including a carefully crafted feeding plan and ongoing medical evaluations. While Uki’s arrival is a heartwarming milestone, she will not be introduced to SeaWorld Orlando’s guest-facing habitats immediately. The young walrus will spend time acclimating to her new surroundings and receiving the round-the-clock care necessary to support her growth and well-being. “Uki’s journey to SeaWorld Orlando is only the beginning of her new chapter. Our team is providing dedicated, 24/7 care to ensure her transition is as smooth as possible,” said Dr. Joseph Gaspard, Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld Orlando. “We want to give her time to settle into her new home, and once she’s ready, guests will have the unique opportunity to meet this extraordinary calf and learn more about our conservation efforts in the Arctic region.” Ukiwas first discovered by Utqiagvik community members in July 2024, after a walrus herd had left the area. Alone and vulnerable, the young calf, estimated to be only a few weeks old, was transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) in a rescue operation in coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). She received immediate medical care for dehydration and malnourishment from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s expert team, and additional professionals familiar with walrus care, including SeaWorld, mobilized to provide additional support for her round-the-clock care. “We are proud to have been able to quickly respond to the call for help, getting a zoological team with expertise in walrus care to the Alaska SeaLife Center within 24 hours of the calf’s rescue,” said Dr. Claire Erlacher-Reid, Senior Veterinarian at SeaWorld Orlando. “Uki’s story of survival is a testament to the importance of partnerships and rapid response in wildlife rescue, and we are committed to providing her with the highest level of care as she continues her journey here at SeaWorld Orlando.” "We are thrilled by the progress this walrus calf has made since her admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program. As just the eleventh orphaned Pacific walrus calf to come through our doors since our opening 25 years ago, we recognize how incredibly special she is. Success stories like Ukiaq is what inspires us, the only organization authorized to rehabilitate live-stranded marine mammals in the state of Alaska," said Dr. Wei Ying Wong, ASLC President and CEO. Uki’s story of survival continues to highlight the importance of global collaboration in marine mammal rescue. “From the Utqiagvik community members who first found her, to the tireless efforts of the ASLC team, and now to our family here at SeaWorld Orlando, Uki has been surrounded by people committed to giving her a second chance,” said Dr. Gaspard. As she grows stronger in her new home, Uki will play an essential role as an ambassador for her species, educating the public on the challenges Pacific walruses face in the wild. Her story, like many other animals rescued by SeaWorld Orlando, emphasizes the park’s ongoing mission to inspire action toward the protection and preservation of marine life. The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, and the NC Giving Fund. Those interested in contributing to the care of these patients can visit www.alaskasealife.org/donate.      Call first! Before approaching an injured or stranded marine animal in Alaska, call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-907-362-2232  

Back-to-Back Rescues Bring Two Orphaned Sea Otter Pups to ASLC for Rehabilitation and Veterinary Treatment   Seward, Alaska (November 17, 2025): The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) recently admitted two orphaned northern sea otter pups rescued from the Homer area within a two-week span. A female, estimated to be less than two months old, was found alone and extremely malnourished on the beach. Ten days later, a male otter pup was reported in the same region after a fall storm moved through the area. The male pup is estimated to be between 4 and 6 months old and was found in a less severe emaciated state, but lethargic, alone, and in poor condition.    Reports of both otters came through ASLC’s 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline (1-888-774-7325), prompting swift responses from ASLC’s wildlife response team. Staff and volunteers observed each pup closely to ensure no adult otters were caring for the pups. When no adults were spotted, the animals were transported to Seward for urgent veterinary care at the ASLC with prior authorization from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).    The female pup is currently in critical condition and receiving intensive care after arriving at the Center on October 20, 2025, extremely malnourished, dehydrated, severely anemic, and weak.   “Usually, when an otter pup is first admitted and receiving its first veterinary exam, it will vocalize often and move around a lot. This pup was so lethargic and weak that she barely made any noise, which was immediately concerning,” said ASLC Veterinarian Dr. Emmanuelle Furst.    Since the female pup’s arrival, she has slowly started to gain weight and strength with 24-hour care and veterinary treatment. She continues to have gastrointestinal issues, which the ASLC animal care and veterinary teams are watching closely. Ten days later, an older male pup, estimated to be around 4 to 6 months old, was admitted after being found alone and resting unusually high up on the beach in Homer. He appeared weak and lethargic, and birds had begun to gather near and peck at him. The male pup is currently undergoing additional medical tests to better understand his condition and prepare targeted veterinary treatments, as he fights to overcome his health challenges.  With these two newest sea otter patients, the Alaska SeaLife Center is now caring for four orphaned sea otter pups, all of whom will be deemed non-releasable due to their young age (under six months old) and their dependence on intensive human care. The wildlife response program has seen an uptick in orphaned, injured, and deceased sea otter reports across the state this year, and the ASLC continues to run tests to better understand what is impacting the wild populations.  These young otters’ stories serve as a powerful reminder of Alaska’s unique wildlife and the ecosystems they rely on, and our shared responsibility to protect them. As the state’s only permanent marine wildlife response and rehabilitation facility, the Alaska SeaLife Center remains committed to giving every animal the best possible chance at survival while deepening understanding of the ocean we all depend on.  The ASLC Wildlife Response Program operates year-round to respond to and care for stranded and orphaned marine animals across the state. You can help make rescues like these possible by donating to support their care and by reporting animals in need. Before approaching an injured or stranded marine animal, call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL (7325). Your Support Matters  The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. Supporters can help provide vital care for marine animals in need by donating at www.alaskasealife.org/donate.  The ASLC acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, M. E. Webber Foundation, The Theresa Bannister Fund, and the NC Giving Fund.              

$(document).ready(function() { var obj = document.createElement("audio"); obj.src="/uploads/vft/gulf_watch/audio/fetcheduphardaground.mp3"; obj.volume=0.10; obj.autoPlay=false; obj.preLoad=true; $(".playSound").click(function() { obj.play(); }); });     animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         On March 24, 1989, an oil tanker leaving the port of Valdez, Alaska hit a shallow reef and spilled 11 million gallons of oil into the sea. This spill spread southwest, covering nearly 1,300 miles of coastline in thick, sticky oil. Oil was even found washed up near the village of Chignik, 470 miles away from the spill site. It is estimated that 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, up to 22 orcas, and billions of salmon and herring eggs were lost in the spill. It is difficult to know how many intertidal plants and animals, such as barnacles, sea stars, and hermit crabs, were also impacted. The Gulf of Alaska is part of the North Pacific Ocean. It stretches from the Alaska Peninsula in the west to the islands of Alaska’s southeast. The coast includes mountains, glaciers, forests, towns, and cities. The waters are full of life and support one of the country’s largest fishing industries. Powerful currents circulate marine life and bring up nutrients from deep waters. Seabirds and marine mammals feed in the many bays and estuaries of the gulf. These areas also provide nursery habitats for fish. So many factors influence the Gulf of Alaska! The major factors include: Precipitation in the form of snow and rain Freshwater runoff from rivers, glaciers, and melting snow The upwelling & downwelling of water carrying nutrients that get mixed by the tides and currents Click the image below for a closer look at some of these factors. Be sure to use the vocabulary list at the right if you run into any terms you are not familiar with! Thousands of workers, volunteers, and community members worked together to clean up the spill. However, oil still remains hidden below the sand and rocks on the beaches and scientists want to know what this means for the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem. Since 1989, scientists have continued to study how the Gulf of Alaska's ecosystem is responding to the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS). All of Earth’s ecosystems are affected by both natural changes and human activities. After the 1989 spill, scientists realized something important. We did not have enough data to fully understand how complex the northern Gulf of Alaska ecosystem really is. We were lacking what researchers call “baseline” data. A baseline is a measure of how things are (or were) at a particular time. Without baseline data, it is hard to understand how ecosystems respond to changes in environmental conditions, which can occur naturally or as a result of human activities. Think of a baseline like this: If you measure your heartbeat when you are resting, it’s beating regularly and probably pretty slowly. This is your baseline to measure from. If you suddenly run up a long flight of steps, your heart starts beating much faster and you are probably out of breath. If you count your heartbeat now, you can measure how much it changed from the baseline. That change is the impact caused by running up the steps. For example, in the Gulf of Alaska it is difficult to know exactly how the 1989 oil spill changed sea otter population numbers. This is hard to measure because baseline data for the number of sea otters living there before the spill doesn't exist. In order to improve our understanding of baselines and change for the entire Gulf of Alaska ecosystem, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council created and continues to fund the work of the Gulf Watch Alaska long-term monitoring program. Gulf Watch Alaska is a team of scientists and researchers who work together to measure and monitor different parts of the ecosystem in the spill area. They compare their data to get a “bigger picture” about how the ecosystem works and how healthy it is. VIDEO: Introduction to Gulf Watch Alaska Introduction to the Gulf Watch Alaska ecosystem monitoring program. (1:14) Video Transcript On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, spilling more than 10 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Alaska. Today, more than 26 years after the accident, scientists are still trying to understand the full impacts of the spill on the waters and wildlife of the Gulf. To that end, Gulf Watch Alaska has brought together twelve different organizations and over 40 scientists to study all aspects of the Gulf of Alaska and its state of recovery from the spill. Monitoring the lasting effects of the oil spill is no small task. Like a large puzzle, the Gulf of Alaska is a complex system made up of ever smaller components. The four main components being studied by Gulf Watch Alaska are the driving environmental forces of the Gulf, the pelagic ecosystem of its waters, the nearshore ecosystems of its coast, and the lingering oil that still remains from the Exxon Valdez spill. By closely monitoring these components simultaneously, the scientists of Gulf Watch Alaska hope to better understand the whole picture of the Gulf of Alaska and its continuing recovery from the spill.   The Gulf Watch Alaska monitoring program is organized into four related ecosystem monitoring components. Click below to discover each component.       Who is watching the Gulf?   Baseline data (n): a measure of normal or how things usually are before change   Carbon pump (n): the ocean's biologically-driven transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to the deep sea   Detritus (n): waste or debris of any kind, but especially organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms   Downwelling/Upwelling (n): the downward (or upward) movement of fluid, especially in the sea   Ecosystem (n): a community of living things and its nonliving surroundings linked together by energy and nutrient exchange   Eddy (n): a circular movement of water counter to a main current   Estuary (n): where the salty ocean tide meets freshwater from the land at the mouth of a river, stream, creek, or the toe of a glacier   EVOS (n): Exxon Valdez oil spill   Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (n): organization formed after EVOS to oversee the restoration of the injured ecosystem   Habitat (n): a place that provides an animal or plant with adequate food, water, shelter, and living space to feed, breed, seek shelter, and raise young   Impact (n): a powerful or major influence or effect   Lunar forcing (n): the effect that the gravitational pull of the moon has upon the oceans, creating the tide cycles   Monitor (v): to observe and check the progress or quality of (something) over a period of time; keep under systematic review   Photic boundary (n): the depth of the ocean that indicates the division between the photic (or sunlight) zone and the aphotic zone where photosynthesis becomes impossible  

Join the movement to reduce your single-use plastic through the month of July! We will have kids activities, resources to reduce your plastic use, and a selfie station where YOU can make a pledge to help from 10 AM - 4 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the month of July (starting July 7). All activities are included with general admission.   Want to continue learning and challenging yourself to reduce your plastic use this month? Check out these resources: https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org/ https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         Individual scientists usually specialize in one particular area. They get very good at knowing a lot about a few things. This is a natural and very normal thing to do, especially when the amount of detail a researcher has to consider in their study is huge! There is no way for any one person to know the ins-and-outs of each and every project. One of the most important lessons we can learn from a disaster the size of the Exxon Valdez oil spill is the importance of "thinking big" with science -- really big! We need to ask big questions, such as: “How is this one particular thing connected to that?” or “What influence does something that seems so different and very far away have on my local work?” or “How is this one thing connected to everything?” Scientists might not have the luxury of working on a whole bunch of different projects at once but, through cooperation in large projects like Gulf Watch, they can see the links, or connections, between what they have been focusing on and what others have been doing. In science, we call this "systems thinking." Systems thinking looks at the web of relationships where individual pieces respond both in their own individual ways and together as a whole. An ecosystem like the Gulf of Alaska is not just a collection of individual animals and plants. It is all living things interacting with each other and with the non-living things around them. Gulf Watch Alaska scientists combine data from all of their projects to help them better answer their own specific research questions. This gives each of them a better understanding of complicated ecosystem connections. You can think of each project like different pieces to a jigsaw puzzle. As more and more pieces are combined, a clearer and more complete picture emerges. Click the picture below to solve the jigsaw puzzle! Systems thinking allows the modern scientist to step outside of their lab. They connect with fellow researchers and see the importance of their work on a much larger scale. It requires teamwork and communication as they build a network with different specialties, interests, and research subjects. Watch the video below and listen to the Gulf Watch team as they talk about working together and putting the pieces of this complicated puzzle into place. VIDEO: Monitoring Connections Sonia Batten, Heather Coletti, and Dan Esler discuss connections between the four individual monitoring components of Gulf Watch Alaska. (1:55) Video Transcript (Sonia Batten) The Gulf of Alaska is a really complicated system. You’ve got places like Cook Inlet, Prince William Sound, which are these kind of inlets, and they’ve got local things happening there which are really important. And there are people studying the plankton and the ocean in those places, and they do really good detailed local studies, but we’re looking at a bigger area. We go from way off shore across the shelf, and it kind of smoothes out the little small-scale local effects and we’re looking at bigger climate effects and things that affect the whole region. So my data provides a link to what the local studies are doing and gives a broader context. (Heather Coletti) I think our work will really inform and strengthen our understanding of the connections between these systems. They talk about some of the zooplankton in the oceans out in the middle of the Gulf. How does that affect our coast and where we all recreate and live? And I guess I’d say the same thing for some of the environmental drivers, these big oceanographic systems that move through and the changes in the climate. How does that affect where we spend our time and where our resources are? (Dan Esler) I think a really important contribution of the work is to be able to take that long-term view of how things operate in marine ecosystems and how contaminant events are, what the timeline is for recovery from those sorts of things. And that fits in perfectly with the philosophy of Gulf Watch generally, taking this long-term, broad-scale view to understand these bigger patterns in marine ecosystems. I think that’s a really an important contribution for what we’re trying to do. You too can help with long-term ecosystem monitoring right in your own ecosystem -- through Citizen Science! Citizen science is the collection and analysis of data through partnerships between the general public and professional scientists. This collaborative way of doing science allows anyone with an interest in the natural world to engage in the scientific process. Many citizen scientist projects benefit from people gathering local monitoring data and contributing to a larger database. The data provided by participating citizen scientists helps professional researchers build a more complete understanding of ecosystems that they only visit once or twice a year. Recently, the scientific journal "Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment" published an entire issue focused on citizen science! Click the link on the right to access the journal. Explore some of the links below to find a citizen science opportunity to join! • Citizen Scientists • The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Citizen Science Central Projects • National Science Foundation • SciStarter • Scientific American Citizen Science Project List • Zooniverse • Journey North       Who is watching the Gulf?      

Seward, Alaska (April 7, 2020) – Nat Geo WILD’s new series, “Alaska Animal Rescue,” is airing April 11 at 5 p.m. Alaska time. This new show highlights three renowned animal conservation centers, the Alaska SeaLife Center, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and the Alaska Raptor Center.   The series will give viewers a unique behind the scenes look at wildlife response in action as animal care teams experience both the rewards and challenges of rescuing wildlife in various regions of Alaska. From Nat Geo WILD: “Whether caring for a stranded sea lion, an orphaned lynx or an injured eagle, these are the people on the front lines, willing to do whatever it takes to rescue and preserve Alaska’s wildlife.”   The facilities featured in “Alaska Animal Rescue” anticipate this series will help inspire people to care about wildlife and conservation. “We hope viewers of the show see how valuable all three of our facilities are not just to wildlife in the state of Alaska, but in supporting conservation work on a global scale,” said Tara Riemer, Alaska SeaLife Center President and CEO.    “We are very excited for the premiere of Alaska Animal Rescue. We hope viewers will become stewards for Alaska’s wildlife and learn how everyone around the world can help participate in wildlife conservation efforts,”  said Di Whitney, Executive Director, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.   Jennifer Cross, Executive Director, Alaska Raptor Center states, “All of us at the Alaska Raptor Center are thrilled about the show’s premiere this Saturday! Although filming was challenging at times, we are thankful for this opportunity to showcase the important work non-profits do on behalf of Alaska’s wild animals.”     The show will air on Nat Geo WILD channel April 11, at 9/8c (5 p.m. Alaska time)  Learn more about the facilities highlighted in the series here: https://alaskaanimalrescue.org/    About the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.   About the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) Founded in 1993, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation is a sanctuary dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals and provides them with enclosures at a 200-acre facility in Portage, Alaska. Most of the animals that arrive at AWCC become permanent residents. To learn more, visit www.alaskawildlife.org.    About the Alaska Raptor Center (ARC) Established in 1980, the Alaska Raptor Center’s mission is to promote and enhance wild populations of raptors and other avian species through rehabilitation, education, and research. ARC provides medical treatment to about 200 injured birds each year, striving to rehabilitate and release its avian patients. Some birds who are too injured to survive in the wild find sanctuary at the facility in Sitka, Alaska, providing educational opportunities to visitors. To learn more, visit www.alaskaraptor.org.      

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is caring for a female Pacific walrus calf that arrived from Utqiagvik on July 22, 2024. Walruses are rare patients for the Wildlife Response Department, with only eleven total and just one other female since the ASLC opened in 1998. This patient follows another walrus admitted just last year, which gained national attention but sadly passed away due to irreversible health issues. The ASLC’s newest patient was first observed alone on the beaches of Utqiagvik. Reports from subsistence hunters noted that a walrus herd had recently left the area, suggesting the calf had been left on its own. After receiving approval from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), ASLC staff mobilized to assist in transport and prepared to receive the patient. Transporting the calf from Utqiagvik, Alaska’s northernmost city, was no simple task. Luckily, ASLC partners were able to provide overnight care and fluids, ensuring the calf remained stable on its 24-hour journey. The transport team arrived in Anchorage the night of July 22, and the nearly 165-pound calf — estimated to be only a couple of weeks old or less — was brought under the care of the ASLC’s experienced Wildlife Response and Veterinary teams. The atmosphere was charged with determination and cautious optimism as the team conducted their initial admit exam. They noted that the calf was malnourished and dehydrated, but alert. As the team wrapped up administering emergency fluids and stabilizing treatments around 1 a.m. on July 23,  they prepared for the demanding days ahead. “We want to give [the calf] time to rest, but that doesn’t mean there is any time for the staff to rest. We will have at least two people on every shift either staying with the walrus calf or prepping food, cleaning the environment, and taking care of our other rehab patients. There will be lots of weird sleeping hours ahead, but that's ok. We do it for the animals. We want to give back and set them up for success. This is all part of the job we love,” said ASLC Veterinary Technician Jessica Davis. The care regimen for Pacific walruses is more demanding and hands-on than for many other marine mammals. Because calves are highly social and seek comfort through physical contact with their mothers, staff act as surrogates, sitting with them around the clock. This also means that the calf will habituate to human care, and will not be a candidate for release back into the wild.  "Walruses are so reliant on their moms for the first two years of life, they're likely not going to survive without her. This calf would not have survived much longer without her mom. She now has a second chance at life in human care, and she'll help bring awareness to her species while receiving incredible care,” explained Wildlife Response Animal Care Specialist Halley Werner. Though the walrus calf cannot currently be viewed publicly, she may be relocated to an area with limited public viewing as her condition improves. Upon such a development, additional announcements will be shared. Until then, regular updates can be found on the ASLC’s Facebook and Instagram pages.    The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, and the NC Giving Fund.  Those interested in contributing to the care of these patients can visit www.alaskasealife.org/donate.        Call first! Before approaching an injured or stranded marine animal in Alaska, call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL(7325).   

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has admitted its first live patient of the 2025 wildlife response season: a female northern sea otter pup rescued from a beach in Homer, Alaska. Estimated to be around two months old, the pup was found alone, lethargic, and malnourished. The report came through ASLC’s 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline, prompting a swift response from ASLC wildlife response volunteers Mike Coffing and Sarah Wilhelm. After assessing the pup and confirming her critical condition, the team relayed their findings to ASLC staff in Seward, who immediately contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to authorize her transport for urgent veterinary care.  Before the journey to Seward, the pup received initial triage and stabilizing care at Kachemak Bay Animal Hospital, thanks to the support of Dr. Zach Gardenfors, ASLC Wildlife Response Staff Member Christie Hill, and the hospital team. Their rapid response helped prepare her for the next phase of treatment. With time of the essence, volunteer Mike helped get the pup to the ASLC faster by meeting the transport team en route. “It was a super quick response by our Homer team that gave this little girl a chance,” said ASLC Husbandry Coordinator Deanna Trobaugh, who fielded the original call and helped coordinate the rescue. “It’s always a race against the clock with animals this young,” Trobaugh added. “Our team in Homer responded with urgency and compassion. Everything came together quickly to get her to the ASLC, where she could get the help she needed.” Upon arrival at the Alaska SeaLife Center, the veterinary team found the pup suffering from dehydration, malnourishment, and a suspected injury to one of her front paws. She is currently receiving 24/7 care, stabilizing treatments, and additional diagnostics to better understand the severity of her condition. "Sea otter pups like this one need round-the-clock care in their earliest months of life," said Jane Belovarac, Wildlife Response Curator at ASLC. “They rely on their mothers for everything from grooming to nutrition, and when a pup is orphaned, it’s up to our team to step in. We’re doing everything we can to give this pup the best possible start.” Those interested can follow the pup’s progress with behind-the-scenes rehab stories from the ASLC’s  Instagram and Facebook pages: @AlaskaSeaLifeCenter. As the 2025 rescue season begins, the ASLC Wildlife Response Program stands ready to care for Alaska’s most vulnerable marine animals. You can help make these rescues possible by supporting the team’s work and reporting marine animals in need from across the state. Remember, before approaching an injured or stranded marine animal, call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-7325. Our staff and volunteers make handling wild animals in need look easy, but it can be extremely dangerous without proper training. The best thing you can do is call first!  The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, The Theresa Bannister Fund, and the NC Giving Fund.   The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. Supporters can help provide vital care for marine animals in need by donating at www.alaskasealife.org/donate.           

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has admitted three more harbor seal pups to the Wildlife Response Program in the past seven days, marking a busy start to the 2025 season. One of the pups was born prematurely, one was found severely malnourished, and another was rescued after it was found alone, likely due to maternal separation. These cases follow the recent admissions of another premature harbor seal pup and an orphaned northern sea otter pup, all requiring intensive rehabilitation and veterinary care.  On May 26, 2025, a premature male pup was found alone on a beach near Petersburg, Alaska. The next day, it was still there alone, prompting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) staff in the area to call the ASLC hotline. After receiving authorization, the pup was recovered and quickly prepared for a flight leaving Petersburg, Alaska that morning.  The seal was transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center, where he remains in critical condition as veterinary teams work to stabilize his fragile health. Similar to challenges a premature human baby may face, the pup’s yellow-tinted gums and bloodwork indicated that his liver isn’t functioning as it should, and his condition remains critical as he fights each day to survive. Just four days later, on May 31, 2025, and from over 700 miles away, a female harbor seal pup was found very emaciated on a beach in Homer, Alaska. She was very skinny, dehydrated, and had a fresh umbilicus, which indicates she was newly born. Once recovery was authorized by NOAA, ASLC Homer volunteers were able to recover and start her transportation to the ASLC for critical veterinary care. This pup’s bloodwork also pointed to liver dysfunction, but the primary concern for the animal care team is her severely malnourished and dehydrated state. She also remains in critical condition. As staff continued providing intensive care for the three harbor seal pups already admitted, they braced for another admit on June 3, 2025. A female harbor seal pup was spotted alone in an unusual location in Anchorage, Alaska. ASLC staff observed the pup for several hours and a tidal cycle through reports provided by the public via the ASLC marine mammal stranding hotline. When no mother returned and the pup remained vulnerable in a heavily trafficked area, NOAA authorized rapid intervention, and the pup was transferred to the ASLC for treatment and rehabilitation.  How can you help harbor seals like these three pups? One of the most significant threats to harbor seal pups during pupping season is human disturbance. If a pup is approached by a human or dog, the mother may abandon it. Once abandoned, a pup’s chances of survival drop dramatically, especially during the critical window when the pup relies entirely on her milk for nutrition, immune support, and survival.  It is essential to give seals space and share coastal areas responsibly. Do not approach, touch, or attempt to move a seal pup. Keep children and pets at a safe distance from haul-out sites and known pupping areas. Approaching or disturbing a marine mammal can cause serious harm to the animal, put people at risk, and may result in violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Responsible viewing ensures that these young animals have the best chance to grow and survive in the wild. If you do see a seal pup in distress, the Alaska SeaLife Center remains ready to respond to reports of stranded and injured marine mammals statewide. Call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL (7325). We encourage all Alaskans and visitors to save this number in their phone contacts—and remember, always call first before approaching any stranded or injured wildlife.           The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. People are encouraged to contribute to the care of rehabilitating marine animals here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate.   The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, and the NC Giving Fund.    

A statewide rescue effort led by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program brings in five more harbor seal pups from across Alaska The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has admitted five more harbor seal pups to the Wildlife Response Program in the span of twelve days from across the state of Alaska. Of the new patients, two pups remain in poor health, two are in critical condition, and one sadly succumbed to an infection despite intensive care efforts. These cases follow the recent admissions of an orphaned northern sea otter pup and four previously admitted harbor seal patients, all of whom required intensive rehabilitation and veterinary care.    On June 6, a female harbor seal pup was found alone on a beach near Nikiski, Alaska. Photos sent to the ASLC Wildlife Stranding Hotline confirmed that the pup was malnourished and dehydrated, likely from maternal separation. After receiving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approval, the female pup was transported by ASLC volunteers in Kenai all the way to Seward for care. Now identified as patient PV2507, the pup is under the care of ASLC’s veterinary and wildlife response teams. While she remains in a guarded state, she has been stable for the past few days and continues to show slow signs of improvement. On June 10, a male harbor seal pup was admitted from the remote community of Pilot Point, Alaska.  Following a two-flight journey to Anchorage, the pup arrived in increasingly fragile condition. In a critical window where every minute mattered, the owner of Kenai Aviation graciously volunteered to fly the pup directly to Seward on a third and final flight, ensuring he could receive immediate veterinary care. Bloodwork confirmed the pup was battling a severe internal infection, and when his fever spiked above 105 degrees Fahrenheit the morning after his admit, the ASLC veterinary and wildlife response teams moved into critical care mode. Despite hours of intensive treatment, the pup unfortunately succumbed to his condition. The Alaska SeaLife Center extends its sincere gratitude to the Kenai Aviation pilot whose rapid response gave this vulnerable pup the best possible chance. Their support was vital in delivering urgent care when it mattered most, and it didn’t stop there.  The very next morning, on June 11, the Kenai Aviation team once again stepped in to help, transporting another harbor seal pup from Anchorage to Seward. This patient had traveled all the way from Sitka, Alaska, highlighting the statewide reach and rapid coordination of the ASLC Wildlife Response Program. Now identified as PV2509, the female harbor seal pup was found extremely malnourished and dehydrated. She remains in critical condition under close observation and intensive care.  The stream of patients being admitted wasn’t over yet. While the team worked to stabilize patient PV2509, the ASLC was monitoring a pup in a popular fishing area in Homer. At the beginning, an adult seal was observed briefly returning to the pup, but as the pup remained in a high-traffic area, more interactions between the pup and people were documented. Her condition deteriorated, and concerns grew. With no further sign of the mother and the pup’s health declining, authorization was granted. She was transported to the ASLC late on the night of June 12. She is now known as patient PV2511.  A few days later, on June 17, a seal pup near Egegik was reported alone. Photos sent showed a pup in lanugo with an umbilicus, indicating this was a premature seal. The next day, he was still in the area and there had been reports of people interacting with him.  Due to his condition and location, this animal was also authorized for recovery and rehabilitation. Thanks to the generous help of Coastal Air LLC, he was flown to King Salmon on short notice so he could make his flight to Anchorage. Harbor seal PV2512 is currently under critical care due to his delicate condition. Unfortunately, these most recent patient admits highlight the serious impacts human presence can have on harbor seal pups during pupping season. One of the most significant threats to these pups is disturbance from people and pets. If a mother seal is interrupted or feels unsafe, especially in high-traffic areas, she may abandon her pup. Once abandoned, a pup’s chances of survival drop sharply, particularly during the early days when it relies entirely on its mother’s milk for nutrition, immune support, and growth. It is critical to give seals space and share coastal areas responsibly. Never approach, touch, or attempt to move a seal pup. Keep children and pets well away from haul-out sites and known pupping areas. Approaching or disturbing a marine mammal can cause lasting harm, pose safety risks to people, and may violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Responsible viewing helps ensure that young animals have the best possible chance to grow and survive in the wild. If you do see a seal pup in distress, the Alaska SeaLife Center remains ready to respond to reports of stranded and injured marine mammals statewide. Call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL (7325). We encourage all Alaskans and visitors to save this number in their phone contacts—and remember, always call first before approaching any stranded or injured wildlife.             The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. People are encouraged to contribute to the care of rehabilitating marine animals here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate.   The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI, and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, M.E. Webber Foundation, and the NC Giving Fund.        

Orphaned Otter Pup and Two Seal Pups Join Growing Patient List at Alaska’s Only Permanent Marine Mammal Rehab Facility The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has admitted three new patients in just four days, including an orphaned male sea otter pup from Homer on June 23. In addition, two orphaned harbor seal pups were admitted — a harbor seal pup from Nikiski on June 20, followed by another harbor seal pup from Juneau on June 23. The pup from Nikiski is currently receiving veterinary treatment, and the pup from Juneau, the smallest and most underweight patient admitted so far this season, did not make it despite intensive care efforts. Including the most recent admits, there are now 12 animals in rehabilitative care at the ASLC, with many still in critical condition and receiving life-saving veterinary care.  “We’ve had busy seasons before, but this is a notable number of admits early on in the season,” said Jane Belovarac, ASLC Wildlife Response Curator and Licensed Veterinary Technician. “With harbor seal pupping season continuing through mid-July, we’re staying prepared. We don’t yet know what the coming weeks will bring.” As Alaska’s only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility, the ASLC plays a vital role in responding to orphaned and injured marine animals from across the state’s vast and remote coastlines. Every case requires coordination, expertise, and long-term commitment from the ASLC’s small but dedicated team. One of the most recent examples of that commitment came just days ago, when a young sea otter pup was found stranded near Homer, Alaska. A community member spotted the pup alone on a beach in Homer and called ASLC’s 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline. The pup was found unusually far from the water during low tide, and his mother was nowhere in sight. After hours alone, birds began to approach the vulnerable pup, and the team knew they needed to act. With authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the ASLC Wildlife Response Team coordinated the pup’s safe transport to Seward for immediate care. In their earliest weeks of life, sea otter pups are entirely dependent on their mothers for survival. Mothers provide near-constant care, including feeding, grooming, and maintaining the pup’s coat to ensure it stays clean and waterproof, which is critical for staying warm and buoyant. When a pup is orphaned, these responsibilities fall to the ASLC’s Wildlife Response Team, which is currently providing round-the-clock care to give the recently admitted pup the strongest chance at survival. “We believe this pup is about two weeks old, and is now under 24/7 care and showing encouraging signs,” said Jane Belovarac, Wildlife Response Curator at ASLC. “He’s alert, taking the bottle well, and has already started practicing holding his breath while in the water, which is a great early milestone. His temperature and glucose levels are stable.  As his body adjusts to drinking formula, we are watching him closely for signs of constipation, which is always a challenge for pups transitioning to new food.” This pup joins another female sea otter pup rescued from Homer earlier this month, who continues to make steady progress. The female pup has now been given the name Un’a, which means “that out in the open water” in the language of the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people. It’s a fitting name, they say, for a special pup who has shown strong resilience in her recovery.    Un’a remains under close observation for a front limb injury that is slow to heal. While obvious on radiographs, it does not appear to bother her, and she is using the limb normally. Her energy levels are improving, and she frequently engages with enrichment toys, dives deep in her pool, and eats solid foods — all positive signs that she’s meeting milestones in her development. For updates on all 12 of the patients currently admitted, follow the Alaska SeaLife Center on Instagram and Facebook at @AlaskaSeaLifeCenter. Our team is busy providing top-notch care to patients, but we’ll share updates as often as we can.  Call First! If you encounter a stranded or injured marine animal in Alaska, contact ASLC’s 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL(7325). Do not approach or attempt to move the animal. The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. Supporters can help provide vital care for marine animals in need by donating at www.alaskasealife.org/donate.      The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, M. E. Webber Foundation, The Theresa Bannister Fund, and the NC Giving Fund.       

Seward, Alaska (July 28, 2016) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is hosting its 18th Annual 5K Wildlife Rescue Run & Walk on Saturday, August 6. The annual family-friendly race is a fundraiser to support the Center’s Wildlife Response Program. This has been another busy year for the Program, which has admitted four harbor seals, one spotted seal, four sea otters, and a spectacled eider to date. The 5K race route follows a generally flat course along the scenic Seward waterfront and is open to walkers and runners of all levels. Race participants are invited to register online via the link found at www.alaskasealife.org. Race bibs will be available for pick up in the Alaska SeaLife Center atrium on August 6 between 10:00 am and 11:30 am. All participants will begin the race at 12:00 pm. The presentation of race awards and drawings for the door prizes and travel raffle will be held at 2:00 pm. Race participants are eligible for an array of door prizes this year, for which they must be present at the drawing to win. Door prizes include:   2016 Lost Lake Run entry - Two ASLC Wildlife Rescue Racers will win entries for the upcoming Lost Lake Run to be held Aug. 27. Registration for this limited entry cross-country run is closed, so this is a special opportunity to enter. See www.lostlakerun.comfor more information about the race. (2 prizes drawn, $100 value each) $50 gift certificate to Ms. Gene's Place, Seward's own Victorian Lounge in the Hotel Seward. (2 prizes drawn, $50 value each)  Alaska SeaLife Center Family Membership - One year family membership includes free family admission, special programming and monthly educational members-only newsletters. (2 prizes drawn, $125 value each) Choice of an Octopus, Puffin or Marine Mammal Encounter for 2 - Go behind the scenes with a member of the ASLC animal care staff to learn more about these amazing animals and participate in a feeding or enrichment session. (1 prize drawn, $149.90 value) Otter Encounter Tour for 2 - Go behind the scenes with members of the ASLC animal care team to observe a sea otter feeding or enrichment session and learn more about these adorable animals. (1 prize drawn, $49.90 value) Skinny Raven gift cards - Get outfitted for town or trail at Alaska's best resource for running shoes, casual shoes and apparel. (2 prizes drawn, $50 each value) In addition, the raffle drawing for two unrestricted Alaska Airline tickets—valued at $2,500—will be held at the event. Tickets are available for $25 each or five for $100 at the ASLC ticketing counter until 2:00 pm August 6. Raffle ticket holders do not need to be present to win. This year, supply donations for the Wildlife Response Program will be accepted at the Wildlife Rescue Run & Walk. New or gently used items utilized to support the rescue and rehabilitation of marine wildlife have been requested, and a container will be available at the race to collect donated items. The list of items being accepted is below. New items needed:  Atlas vinyl non-insulated orange gloves (all sizes)                 Whiteboard Expo markers (any size/color) Cutting boards (heavy duty plastic only - any size) Ziploc Big Bag (gallon size only) Cut gloves by Kinco (all sizes) Scrub brushes or scrub pads with handles Unflavored Pedialyte Shampoo, conditioner, body wash (any brand)  Heavy duty canvas duffel bag New or gently used items needed: Glass Pyrex measuring cups (1-2 cups) Bath or beach towels Traffic cones (12 – 36”) Cake pans (used to make ice molds for enrichment - any size and shape) Mortar and pestle Pill crushers and cutters Orange Pill bottles (labels removed and empty) Rubbermaid containers (heavy duty, microwave safe) Ziploc "Twist n Lock" (small or medium sizes) Silverware Premier Wildlife Rescue Run & Walk sponsors include Shell and ConocoPhillips. Other sponsors include Hub International; Nautilus Impact Investing; Seward Parks & Recreation Department; GCI; Alaska Serigraphics; Metco; Dr. Michael P. Moriarty, DDS; Skinny Raven Sports; Petro 49, Inc.; J & R Fisheries and Kruzof Fisheries, LLC; Seward Properties; Hotel Seward; and Edward Jones. Pacific harbor seal pup PV1601 is one of many ASLC Wildlife Response Program success stories. Found stranded in April 2016, in Homer, Alaska, this male pup is the youngest seal to date to have been brought into the Program. Estimated to have been born a month premature, he arrived soon after birth and underweight. Under the expert care and close monitoring of ASLC staff, This pup transitioned to eating and catching live fish and gained the required weight, strength, and skills to be released back to the ocean in just over two months. About the ASLC: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center is a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium. ASLC generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems, and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  The Alaska SeaLife Center operates a 24-hour hotline for the public to report stranded marine mammals or birds, and encourages people who have found a stranded or sick marine animal to avoid touching or approaching the animal.   Call first: 1-888-774-SEAL.  

Seward, Alaska (October 31, 2016)– The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to create and sustain a nationwide network of animal care professionals to respond to oil spills and other disasters. “We are honored to lead this unprecedented effort to create a vital national resource for wildlife response in the event of oil spills and other disasters,” said Tara Riemer, ASLC President and CEO. “By sharing the expertise and knowledge of the Alaska SeaLife Center with animal care professionals at AZA accredited zoos and aquariums, we will significantly enhance disaster preparedness across the United States. We are very grateful to the Institute of Museum and Library Services for recognizing this need and supporting this ground-breaking effort.” The Alaska SeaLife Center has nearly twenty years of experience in wildlife response. Under the three-year $455,119 grant, ASLC will work with the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center (WHC) of the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, to develop and deliver training courses, a mutual aid framework, and searchable database to facilitate rapid identification and deployment of appropriately trained specialists from the AZA community. “Disasters do happen, and we have a responsibility to prepare as thoroughly as possible to support wildlife and the animals in our care,” said ASLC Operations Director Chip Arnold, the project director. “We look forward to collaborating with our AZA colleagues to ensure the nation’s most highly trained veterinary and wildlife care staff are prepared to respond to disasters where and when the need is greatest.” Obstacles faced by animal care professionals in previous disasters will also be addressed, including provision of federally required Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, or HAZWOPER, certification, and training on the nationally recognized Incident Command System that manages responses to oil spills and other disasters. Updates and refresher certification programs for those previously trained will also be provided, and a train-the-trainer program will be implemented to broaden the network’s reach and support its sustainability. In addition to supporting wildlife response, the trainings will support preservation of animal collections at zoos and aquariums in the event of natural disasters. “Disaster preparedness is a priority for zoo and aquarium collections and wildlife,” said Steve Olson, Federal Relations, Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “Bringing the cutting edge expertise of the Alaska SeaLife Center to the AZA community is vitally important to our mission and the public.”   About ASLC: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.   About WHC: The mission of the WHC is to advance the health of wildlife in balance with people and the environment. Through our projects and programs, we focus on critical issues involving free-ranging and captive terrestrial and aquatic wild animals. As key components of the One Health Institute and the School of Veterinary Medicine, we provide broad-based service, training and research activities as they relate to wildlife health and conservation. To learn more, visit http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/. About IMLS: The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov. About AZA: The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. AZA represents more than 230 institutions in the United States and overseas, which collectively draw more than 183 million visitors every year. These institutions meet the highest standards in animal care and provide a fun, safe, and educational family experience. In addition, they dedicate millions of dollars to support scientific research, conservation, and education programs. To learn more visit www.aza.org. 

Seward, AK (March 9, 2018)– The Alaska SeaLife Center has concluded 159 days of round-the-clock care for the Cook Inlet beluga calf, Tyonek. On Thursday, Tyonek was successfully transported to SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas.  On September, 2017, the one-month-old calf was found stranded near Trading Bay in western Cook Inlet. With the authorization and assistance of NOAA, Tyonek was transported to the ASLC and housed in the Center’s I.Sea.U. When he first arrived he was in a weakened condition and required 24/7 care from multiple animal care experts. During Tyonek’s first days at the Center, he was 140 pounds and 162 cm long. He gradually progressed from suckling from a tube to drinking from a bottle. As Dr. Carrie Goertz, Director of Animal Health, described, “When it comes to helping a terribly rare Cook Inlet beluga, every day is a victory.” In November, Tyonek was transitioned to a larger outdoor pool as he became more independent. Over the next few months Tyonek steadily gained weight and grew stronger, becoming more playful with his caregivers. At his final weigh-in he was 260 pounds and 177 cm long. Once NOAA Fisheries determined Tyonek was non-releasable and could not survive in the wild, the agency followed its formal procedure to place him at a permanent care facility in the United States. Based on a thorough review of the applications, NOAA Fisheries selected SeaWorld San Antonio as the location best suited for Tyonek to thrive because they have both adult females and young male calves that will be important for Tyonek’s social development. Tyonek is the first Cook Inlet beluga calf to be successfully rehabilitated. “We are ecstatic that Tyonek continues to grow and gain strength when just over five months ago he was found stranded, malnourished, and dehydrated on a beach,” said Alaska SeaLife Center President and CEO, Dr. Tara Riemer. “The ASLC is thankful for the support of Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium and SeaWorld, who assisted the ASLC team since October. It has been a long journey for Tyonek, and we were happy to be a part of this young calf’s story.” Here are some statistics from Tyonek’s time at the Center: Over the course of 159 days, employees and volunteers of ASLC and partner aquariums worked over 7000 hours to care for Tyonek. While at the Center, this young calf nearly doubled his weight from 140 to 260 pounds. Tyonek drank 195 gallons of formula, an average of 1.2 gallons per day.   The Alaska SeaLife Center, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is the only permitted marine mammal wildlife response and rehabilitation entity in Alaska. Over 80% of the funding for the Center’s wildlife response program comes from charitable donations. The wildlife response team responds to calls across the 33,904 miles of coastline throughout Alaska. The Center is prepared for wildlife response year-round. Last year was especially eventful with response to several sea otters, various species of seal, and a walrus as well as this Cook Inlet beluga calf. We are thankful for our donors, members, and supporters who help make what we do possible. The Alaska SeaLife Center operates a 24-hour hotline for the public to report stranded marine mammals or birds,and encourages people whohave found a stranded or sick marine animal to avoid touching or approaching the animal.  Call first!  1-888-774-SEAL. High resolution photos available from media@alaskasealife.org. About the Alaska SeaLife Center: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) research institution and public aquarium. We are excited to be celebrating 20 years of generating and sharing scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org or find us on Facebook.

Seward, Alaska (January 8, 2021) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) admitted a two-month-old sea otter pup to the Wildlife Response Program on December 12, 2020.   The female pup was found stranded on a beach in Anchor Point near a deceased adult sea otter being scavenged by a bald eagle. The adult otter is speculated to be the pup’s mother although there is no way to confirm. The pup’s close proximity to the bird of prey and her poor body condition spurred ASLC volunteers to quickly transport her to the Center after receiving U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permission.   This sea otter pup, initially weighing 11 pounds, arrived in critical condition and was covered in dirt. The team was immediately concerned that her feces contained organic debris, indicating she had been eating foliage around the beach where she stranded. “Sea otters have a very sensitive gastrointestinal tract which can quickly become inflamed leading to a life threatening situation. In addition to fluids, we gave her medications to combat the inflammation and promote healing,” notes Dr. Elizabeth deCastro, Veterinarian. After days of intensive care, the pup, now named Juniper, stabilized and brightened. The veterinary team continues to monitor her closely.    A male pup named Pushki, rescued in November by the Center, was identified as a perfect companion for Juniper since they are similar size and age. Pushki and Juniper were introduced as soon as their health conditions stabilized. “The pups were initially curious about one another and vocalized back and forth for quite some time. We watched them play, swim, and groom each other, which are all behaviors that we like to see during a sea otter introduction,” states Wildlife Response Curator, Jane Belovarac. The next step will be to introduce the duo to the Center’s third sea otter Lupine, a patient admitted to the Wildlife Response program in July 2020. Once they are all together long term, the pups’ care will not stop. Sea otter’s require 24/7 care from ASLC staff until they are about 6 months of age.    The Wildlife Response Program is able to operate largely due to donors like ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, Borman Family Foundation, PetZoo, GCI, Partners4Wildlife, Sea Otter Foundation & Trust, and Grizzly Pet Products. Ongoing funding is still required to maintain important mission work at the Center. One easy way for Alaskan’s to contribute to the mission work is through Pick.Click.Give. Alaskan residents can learn how to donate a portion of their Personal Fund Dividend here: www.pickclickgive.org/index.cfm/pfdorgs.info/Alaska-SeaLife-Center   About ASLC  Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.