Volunteers offer helping hand to sick sea lions

LAGUNA BEACH— Volunteers throughout Southern California are donating their time to combat the rising number of sea lion patients being taken in by marine mammal care centers. In 2013, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach witnessed more than 370 marine mammals land ashore in dire need of medical attention. The non-profit organization, whose objective is to rescue, treat, and rehabilitate marine mammals in Orange County, said the number of patients this year reached 100 as of May 1. “This is the second year in a row that we’ve seen elevated stranded numbers for marine animals in our territory,” said Melissa Sciacca, the center’s director of development. “Last year was definitely a crisis year. We had a record number of strandings, more strandings than we’ve ever had in 43 years. This year is certainly mirroring that in many ways.” Patients are typically found malnourished, dehydrated, with low body weight. The center, has 90 volunteers who assist in guiding the mammals back to health. Each patient averages a stay of two to four months. “We are 90 percent volunteer run. It’s truly a community organization,” Sciacca said. “We can’t do any of what we do without the volunteers’ support and the community financial contributions.” According...