A Season of Change for Harbor Seal Pups

While harbor seal pupping season is winding down in Washington State, that doesn’t mean our work at the Rescue Center is dwindling. Summer patients are reaching release weight and returning to the ocean. Seals with complex medical cases are continuing to get treatment. And animals out in the wild are facing a seasonal transition - pups who survived successfully with their mothers may be facing human-caused threats that leave them in need of care.

Read About Two of Our Latest Patients >>

SR3’s Response Coordinator KC, along with the Marine Science and Technology Center's Community Engagement Coordinator Aeriel, assess a harbor seal pup who was rescued off the beach.

Linguine's Remarkable Recovery

Thanks to you, Linguine transformed from malnourished to thriving. Three months after arriving at SR3, this harbor seal patient has gained 30 pounds and built a thick layer of blubber.

Your support helped Linguine receive groundbreaking medical treatment and overcome a previously fatal condition called megaesophagus, where the esophagus dilates and loses its ability to move food from the mouth to the stomach. 

Before and after images of Linguine: while one of the biggest differences you can see in her x-rays is the thickness of her blubber layer, these images also reveal an even more remarkable recovery - the resolution of megaesophagus - a condition historically considered a death sentence for seals.

Today, Linguine is eating like a pro with the rest of the patients in care and is almost ready for release back to the wild!

Learn More about Megaesophagus >>

A New Southern Resident Calf

The Southern Resident killer whale's J Pod recently passed right in front of SR3's Rescue Center! Thank you to volunteer Andrea Reinicke for documenting this magical moment.

Your generosity supports SR3’s health monitoring of endangered Southern Resident killer whales, aiding in the recovery of this iconic population.

While J pod was recently documented with a deceased calf - an unfortunately all too common occurrence - in late September, they were seen with a live calf as well! SR3 documented this pregnancy, and we are happy to see the mother has now welcomed her calf.

With your support, our team continues to track and assess the health of these whales - informing conservation actions - and giving the newest arrival the best chance to thrive.

Please remember to stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident killer whales on the water. By giving whales space, you’re helping protect their ability to successfully forage and survive.

Ocean Hero Highlights

Do you want to celebrate the annual return of salmon while enjoying live music, beer and wine, local arts, and more?

Come to Issaquah Salmon Days on October 4th and 5th! Swing by SR3’s booth located near the hatchery to learn more about the connections between salmon health, water quality, and marine mammals.

This is a free family-friendly event, with a parade, dock-diving dogs, an entire Field of FUN, and much more!

SR3 and a number of partner organizations celebrated International Coastal Cleanup Day in September, this time at Seahurst Park in Burien.

With the help of 83 community volunteers, together we removed 93 pounds of trash that was on its way to the ocean, including 233 cigarette butts, 237 food wrappers, and 347 microplastics.

Shoutout to our talented, indispensable interns!

Animal Care Interns, Lily and Soline (pictured here), have devoted many hours to caring for the sick and injured patients at the Rescue Center.

Our two Education Interns, Olivia and Tessa, have also spent considerable energy teaching people how to protect marine life.

Thank you all for your admirable dedication! We can't wait to see the impacts you will make in years to come.