(Dec. 8, 2016) Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) is currently recruiting and hosting a volunteer training for seal stewards on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m. at the Ocean City Library on 100th Street.
National Aquarium’s Marine Animal Stranding Coordinator Jen Dittmar will conduct the training. This volunteer opportunity is an “on call” opportunity. When a seal hauls out, seal stewards will be contacted to see if they are available to man the haul out area to make sure beach and dog walkers keep a safe distance to protect both the walkers and the seal.
Educational material and information will be provided at each haul out so that stewards can inform interested on-lookers. Contact Sandi Smith at sandis@mdcoastalbays.org or by calling her at 410-213-2297 ext. 106 if planning to attend the training.
MCBP and the National Aquarium Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) partnered three years ago to launch an outreach program on responsible seal viewing and sighting reporting. Out of this partnership developed the seal steward program as Ocean City has been experiencing a significant increase in seal sightings.
If encountering a seal on the beach this winter, call MARP’s direct line at 410-576-3880 or 1-800-628-9944 and register the sighting on the MCBP website – mdcoastallbays.org – so a trained observer can evaluate the condition of the seal to determine if it’s in distress.
National Aquarium’s Marine Animal Stranding Coordinator Jen Dittmar will conduct the training. This volunteer opportunity is an “on call” opportunity. When a seal hauls out, seal stewards will be contacted to see if they are available to man the haul out area to make sure beach and dog walkers keep a safe distance to protect both the walkers and the seal.
Educational material and information will be provided at each haul out so that stewards can inform interested on-lookers. Contact Sandi Smith at sandis@mdcoastalbays.org or by calling her at 410-213-2297 ext. 106 if planning to attend the training.
MCBP and the National Aquarium Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) partnered three years ago to launch an outreach program on responsible seal viewing and sighting reporting. Out of this partnership developed the seal steward program as Ocean City has been experiencing a significant increase in seal sightings.
If encountering a seal on the beach this winter, call MARP’s direct line at 410-576-3880 or 1-800-628-9944 and register the sighting on the MCBP website – mdcoastallbays.org – so a trained observer can evaluate the condition of the seal to determine if it’s in distress.