It started around late June this year. The

first sea lions rescued north of Monterey

Bay exhibited the initial symptoms of

leptospirosis, lethargic, underweight

and unresponsive when approached by

humans. Soon after the first few rescues,

the floodgates opened, and The Marine

Mammal Center’s rescue hotline began

ringing non-stop.

“Leptospirosis epidemics were first doc-

umented in California sea lions in the

early 1970s,” said Dr. Frances Gulland,

The Marine Mammal Center’s Director

of Veterinary Science. “We’ve noticed

that the occurrences are cyclical in

nature, with an outbreak occurring every

three to four years. We are still not sure

why this is, but we continue our studies

and research to better determine the

origins of leptospirosis, and hopefully

to find solutions to lessen future out-

breaks,” said Gulland.

More than 191 sea lions admitted to

The Center have the disease, confirming

2004 as a full-fledged outbreak year.

The biggest outbreak year in The Center’s

history occurred along the northern

and central California coastline in 1995

when 223 sea lions were diagnosed with

leptospirosis. Current indications this

year suggest that The Center may very

well respond to its highest number of

leptospirosis patients.

Disease mystery“The primary effect of the disease we see

is renal failure,” said Dr. Marty Haulena,

The Center’s Veterinarian. “That’s where

the bacteria likes to go and it causes

a lot of damage in these animals—liver

and vascular problems as well.” The sick

sea lions are dehydrated, have an insa-

tiable thirst and are often exhausted.

Veterinarians treat the sea lions with

antibiotics, fluids and anti-ulcer medica-

tion. Even with treatment, about half

of the infected animals will die. The

mystery is how they’re getting it because

the virus thrives only in fresh water.

“Things we’ve suspected are perhaps

a tide pool filled with fresh water,

and places where there might be fresh

water outflow into the ocean and where

fresh water might collect. Sea lions

hang out there and might urinate in

that water and transmit the disease to

other sea lions,” Haulena said.

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by spiral

shaped bacteria called leptospires. It can

spread to humans and pets such as dogs

or cats although actual cases of humans

contracting the disease in this country

are few. If contracted, the disease can

be serious for both humans and animals.

In people, the symptoms are often like

the flu, but sometimes leptospirosis can

develop into a more severe, life-threat-

ening illness with infections in the

kidney, liver, brain, lung and heart. The

bacteria are spread through the urine

of infected animals, which can get into

water or soil and can survive there for

weeks to months. Humans and animals

can become infected through contact

with this contaminated urine, water

or soil. If not treated, the patient could

develop kidney damage, meningitis,

liver failure and respiratory distress.

In rare cases, death can occur.

continued on back page

Teaching Pinniped Meds to Overseas Vets

Elephant Seals are Coming Soon

Ways of Giving

Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas

Special Thanks

releaseThe Newsletter of The Marine Mammal Center Fall/Winter 2004 Vol. 24 No. 3

2 3 4

Leptospirosis Epidemic 2004:

Volunteers and staff are working around the clock to rescue and care for California sea lionsafflicted with leptospirosis, a bacterial infection. As of October 1, more than 57% of the sea lions The Marine Mammal Center has rescued this year have been diagnosed with the disease.Nearly half of the animals have died. Comparatively, during the entire 2003 season, 4.6% of the sea lions rescued by The Center were diagnosed with leptospirosis.

D-Day goes home!

As you may remember, D-Day, the

400-pound California sea lion

rescued on June 6th with a flasher

and fish hook still attached to his

mouth, is back home in the ocean.

He was released on Rodeo Beach

September 16th to much fan-fare

by The Center’s staff and volunteers

as well as beachgoers and surfers.

Veterinarians attached a satellite

receiver to D-Day’s back in order to

gather valuable life history data.

Above: D-Day during surgery to remove the fish hook. Below: D-Day lumbers out of his carrier and heads for the ocean.

Largest Outbreak Killing California Sea Lions Since 1995

11/4Volunteer Orientation Sausalito 7 pm

11/14Learn about Sea Lions presentedby The Center, PIER 39 K dock,San Francisco 11 am and 1 pm

11/20Volunteer Orientation at theBay Model, Sausalito 11 am

12/6Volunteer Orientation Sausalito 7 pm

12/18Volunteer Orientation at theBay Model, Sausalito 11 am

1/9–1/11 Ocean Film FestivalSan Francisco

1/29Bay Area Environmental Resource Fair, San Rafael

Phot

o:G

inny

Qui

ckPh

oto:

Kelly

Hun

tingt

on

Numbers of California sea lions strandingwith leptospirosis. Data compiled by theMarine Mammal Center.

Leptospirosis Statistics

Mark Your Calendars

Elephant Seals Coming to a Beach Near You Marine Mammal Day at SBC Park

The Center Teaches Pinniped Meds to Overseas Veterinarians

The Marine Mammal Center is primarily

known for fostering marine mammal

survival and for conservation. Through

the rescue and humane treatment of

marine mammals such as Pacific harbor

seals, northern elephant seals and

California sea lions, The Center works

to release those animals back to their

ocean homes up and down 600 miles

of northern and central California coast.

The Center is also heavily involved in

scientific inquiry and education. During

the week of July 12, 2004, ten veterinari-

ans from various countries including

Brazil, Norway, Mexico, U.K. and Canada,

participated in a Marine Mammal

Veterinary Medicine workshop known

as Marvet 2 (wetvet). The program

is designed for graduate veterinarians

seeking interactive exposure to pin-

niped medicine. The Marine Mammal

Center’s veterinarians, Dr. Frances

Gulland and Dr. Marty Haulena, along

with Dr. Katie Colegrove, Dr. Tanja Zabka

and Dr. Robyn Stoddard from University

of California at Davis, husbandry man-

agers, and marine biologist Denise

Greig, taught classes where each class

member actively participated in “hands-

on” veterinary care, including clinical

diagnostics, medicine and surgery. Stu-

dents learned about anesthesia tech-

niques, infectious and non-infectious

diseases, they performed necropsies,

learned how to take blood samples, and

learned about satellite transmitter

tracking technology.

Marvet 2 is a tuition-based program

designed to fill a void where many uni-

versities leave off in marine mammal

medicine science.

The second annual Marine Mammal Day

at SBC Park was a smashing success! On

September 4, under beautiful, warm, sunny

skies, the San Francisco Giants beat the

Arizona Diamondbacks 9-7 in a thrilling

comeback during the eighth-inning rally.

The Marine Mammal Center hit a home-

run as well—it raised a record $20,000.

We thank all of those who helped make the

day a special and fun time for all. Special

thanks to Chevron, The San Francisco Giants,

Cheer SF for their wonderful sponsorship

and support, and to volunteer Stacy Bezyack

for coordinating all of our fundraising

events that day.

As winter approaches, marine mammal

enthusiasts think of elephant seals.

Starting in December, 5,000-pound

males lumber ashore for the breeding

season. They fight with other males

to gain dominance and access to a

harem of 50 females. By January, the

2,000-pound moms have arrived and

given birth to their 75-pound pups.

After one month, the pup is weaned

and the female is ready to mate with

the alpha male presiding over the

harem. By March, the pups are left

alone on the beach to learn life skills

on their own. Winter is a wonderful

time to visit these rookeries. Here are

some places to view elephant seals

along our coast:

Point Reyes National Seashore:

Located at Chimney Rock near the

lighthouse. Docents are available.

No reservations required. For further

information, contact the Bear Valley

Visitor Center at (415) 464-5100 or

www.nps.gov/pore/nature_wldlf_

eseals.htm.

Año Nuevo State Reserve:

Located on Highway 1 north of

Santa Cruz. Docent lead tours are

available December through

March. For reservations, contact

Año Nuevo at (800) 444-4445 or

www.parks.ca.gov/anonuevo.

San Simeon:

Located on Highway 1 near the

Hearst Castle. Docents are available.

No reservations required. For further

information, contact the Friends of

the Elephant Seal at (805) 924-1628

or fes@elephantseal.org.

2 Fall / Winter 2004 www.marinemammalcenter.org

SF Giants mascot “Lou Seal,” Al Lundmarkfrom Chevron, and B.J. Griffin and “Franniethe Fur Seal” from The Center.

Marvet 2 student Dr. Stephen Jones from theU.K. learning anesthesia techniques.

P. Parker, a two-month old male harbor

porpoise calf, stranded on July 28, 2004

at Fort Funston beach in San Francisco.

His rescue was one of the quickest

cetacean responses The Marine Mam-

mal Center has ever completed. For the

past two months, he was cared for by

volunteers and staff around the clock.

On September 26, P. Parker was found

dead. Although his overall weight was

holding steady for a little while, he had

lost a significant amount of weight over

the course of rehabilitation even though

he was being fed a very large amount of

food. Upon examination, veterinarians

believe P. Parker died as a result of ema-

ciation. About 80% of his skin appeared

to be infected with a fungus (doctors

are not sure exactly what type yet, but

are awaiting results from the lab). The

results of the biopsy from the week

prior had suggested the infection was

superficial. A necropsy was performed

on P. Parker, but did not turn up any

obvious abnormalities. Tissue samples

for histopathology were taken and will

be examined to possibly shed more

light on his inability to gain weight.

Baker D. is a bottlenose dolphin rescued

on China Beach in San Francisco, Sep-

tember 1. He has numerous bite marks

on his body and it’s thought that the

eight-foot long male cetacean may have

received those bites from other members

of his pod. Baker D. has an abscess on the

left side of his rostrum, a minor injury

near his dorsal fin and caudal peduncle.

Because of his size, and the fact that

the Center’s main pool was too small

for him to properly dive, on October 6,

staff and volunteers transported Baker

D. to Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz

to finish the rest of his rehabilitation.

After he’s completed his recovery,

he’s is expected to be released back

to the ocean.

P. Parker and Baker D.—Two Cetaceans Going Up Against the Odds

Left: Harbor porpoise P. Parker being tube fed by volunteers. Right: Baker D., the Bottlenose dolphin, with a fish in his mouth.

Phot

o:Th

e Sa

n Fr

anci

sco

Gia

nts.

Phot

o:Jim

Osw

ald

Phot

o:Th

e M

arin

e M

amm

al C

ente

r

Top: Adult, male, bull elephant seals fighting.Bottom: Año Nuevo, February 2004.

Phot

o:Ke

lly H

untin

gton

Phot

o:D

ebor

ah G

abris

Phot

o:Ch

ristin

e Cu

rry

www.marinemammalcenter.org Fall / Winter 2004 3

Introducing The Center’s new Junior Membership Pals Program!For the kids on your list (or even those

grown-ups who are young at heart!),

consider a junior membership. This

program, called Pals, was introduced

by The Center in September, and is

growing in popularity. Its purpose is to

excite, educate and involve kids 7-12

years of age about marine mammals

and ocean health. Young members

become “Marine Mammal Pals,” and

get a newsletter, fun pictures and

posters of special patients at The Center,

and access to a password-protected

web site designed just for them!

Marine Mammal Pals learn all about

marine mammals through fun games,

quizzes and other activities.

One year’s Marine Mammal Pal mem-

bership, $20 | To ensure gift recipient

receives his/her membership before

12/25, please order by 12/6 by going to

www.marinemammalcenter.org, or

visit any of our gift store locations.

Cabernet wine from Ty CatonTy Caton vineyards in Sonoma, CA, has

graciously agreed to donate proceeds

from sales of a portion of its Cabernet

Sauvignon 2000 to The Marine

Mammal Center. For those on your

list who have everything, yet enjoy

a fine glass of red wine, this may be

the perfect gift. This Cabernet has a

“long, spicy finish” and tastes of wine

making at its best. All bottles come

with special insignia from The Marine

Mammal Center.

Ty Caton/Marine Mammal Center

Cabernet Sauvignon, $25 | To ensure

gift recipient receives his/her gift

before 12/25, please order by 12/6

by going directly to the winemaker

at www.catonwines.com.

San Francisco Giants’ Lou Seal PinsEver notice how Giants fans love their

pins? This special Lou Seal pin was

produced for the second annual Marine

Mammal Day held at SBC Park in

September. Each year, a pin is produced

that shows the Giants’ mascot with

one of his marine mammal friends.

Only 5,000 were produced, and they

are going quickly, so be sure to place

your order early.

Lou Seal Pin, $5 | To ensure gift

recipient receives his/her gift before

12/25, please order by 12/13 by going

to www.marinemammalcenter.org,

or visit any of our gift store locations.

Adopt-A-Seal……or a sea lion, an otter, a porpoise or

any of our other very cute patients!

For $30, we’ll send your gift recipient a

photo of his or her adoptee (pictured at

right), personalized certificate of adop-

tion, animal biography and recent issue

of our newsletter, Release. For an extra

$10, we can also send a copy of Smith-

sonian’s “Sea Lion Roars,” a children’s

book (ages 5-9) chronicling a sea lion

pup rescue by The Center. For an addi-

tional $10, you can include The Marine

Mammal Center’s 2005 calendar.

Adopt-A-Seal gift, minimum donation

of $30 | To ensure gift recipient

receives his/her gift before 12/25,

please order by 12/1 by going to

www.marinemammalcenter.org, or

visit any of our gift store locations.

And from our very own gift shop…Be sure that your friends and family

have the latest best-sellers from our

gift shops. We’ve made it easy for

you with a wide assortment of online

gifts and merchandise. Choose from

jewelry, clothing, books, stuffed ani-

mals, home décor and more! All items

may be ordered online, but to ensure

delivery by 12/25, please place orders by

12/13. You can also visit any of our gift

store locations. Your purchases will bring

joy to the recipients as well as benefit

the animals we care for at The Center.

For personal shopping assistance, call

(415) 289-7373. To shop online, log onto

www.marinemammalcenter.org.

Holiday Gift Ideas from The Center

Thanks to you, The Center is able to

abate animal suffering, expand innov-

ative education programs, and under-

take critical scientific studies that are

helping to ensure the health and

protection of marine mammals for

future generations.

As the holiday season approaches, we

hope you will consider making a

special gift to The Center. Donations

received before January 1 are tax

deductible for 2004. There are many

ways you can help support and advance

The Center’s work. You can donate

your car, RV or boat; make a planned

gift by including The Center in your

will; and/or make an in-kind donation.

For example, we are currently in need

of computer monitors and specific

school supplies. Feel free to contact

Stephanie Williams in the Develop-

ment Department at (415) 289-0189

or williamss@tmmc.org for more

information on how you can help.

Thank you again for your loyal support.

Callo

way

Ph

oto:

Kelly

Hun

tingt

onG

arbe

rPh

oto:

Ingr

id O

verg

ard

Gar

nett

Phot

o:Ke

lly H

untin

gton

Committee Now Forming for2005 Run For The Seals

The 23rd Annual Run For The Seals

race will be held on Saturday, March

12th. This is a signature event coordi-

nated and led by volunteers and is a

fun time for both humans and dogs!

If you’d like to be a part of planning

for next year’s race, or would like to

become a corporate sponsor—please

contact Co-chairs Karen Smith at

(650) 678-0902 or Jennifer Coggin

at (510) 704-4009 to learn more.

Ways of Giving

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? How about something truly unique that can’t be found in themall? Why not consider these special gift items from The Marine Mammal Center—there’s somethingsure to please just about anyone on your holiday gift-giving list!

Ty Caton/Marine Mammal Center CabernetSauvignon, Lou Seal Pin, Black Logo Pull-over Sweatshirt, 2005 Marine MammalCenter 30th Anniversary Calendar, books,Marine Mammal Center coffee mug, SealNecklace, Otter Back Pack, Ornament.

Marine Mammal Center Gift store locations:

marinemammalcenter.org

The Marin Headlands in Sausalito

Store and interpretive center on the second floor of PIER 39

PIER 39 kiosk in San Francisconext to the sea lions

It’s because of the generous support from caring people like you that The MarineMammal Center was there to help animals like D-Day return to his ocean home.Before The Center’s existence, animals in need didn’t get a second chance at life.

4-Mile Run / Walk / Dog Trot9:00 AM Saturday, March 12, 2005Rodeo Beach, Marin HeadlandsBaby Joggers & Dogs Welcome

continued from front cover

This year’s leptospirosis outbreak is seen in

heavily concentrated areas along the

coasts from Mendocino County in the north to

Monterey County on the central coast.

Leptospirosis is primarily affecting subadult,

male sea lions within this range. The disease is

the second largest cause for sea lions to

strand in this area—malnutrition is the

number one reason as shown in the chart.

The Center sees approximately 500 animals a

year, two-thirds of which are California sea

lions. Many of the animals strand because of

unusual weather patterns such as El Niño,

human interactions such as gunshots or

entanglements, or for medical reasons such as

leptospirosis, domoic acid toxicity and cancer.

Volunteers are desperately needed to help

with rescues and animal care. It’s easy to

become a volunteer at The Center; just come

to one of the orientations and meet the vari-

ous crew supervisors to learn more about the

day-to-day tasks required to work on a crew.

For more information and to learn when the

next orientation will be held, call (415) 289-SEAL.

To learn more about leptospirosis, go to

www.marinemammalcenter.org/what_we_do,

and click on rehabilitate.

Release is a publication ofThe Marine Mammal Center.

Director of CommunicationsCynthia Schramm

EditorJim Oswald

PhotographersDeborah GabrisKelly HuntingtonIngrid OvergardJim OswaldGinny QuickThe San Francisco Giants

ContributorsDenise GreigFrances GullandJane HardyMarty HaulenaJessica HsuDoreen MoserJim OswaldCynthia SchrammKathy Zagzebski

DesignAshton Abeck

releaseNonprofitOrganizationU.S. PostageP A I DGMS

The Marine Mammal CenterMarin Headlands1065 Fort CronkhiteSausalito, CA 94965-2697415.289.SEALwww.marinemammalcenter.org

© 2004 by The Marine Mammal CenterSince 1975, The Marine MammalCenter has rescued over 10,000injured, sick and orphaned marine mammals along 600 miles of northern and central California coastline.

Printed on 70% recycled,30% post-consumer paper Numbers tell the story: 26% of California

Sea Lions Strand Due to Leptospirosis

Board of DirectorsCarole and Daniel EitingonBetty and William HaslerGilan Read, Read Family Foundation,

The Otter Cove FoundationSandor Straus and Faye M. Straus

Protected Resources CircleAnonymous (9)Maria AlexanderMignon R. Alkire, In memory

of Dale V. AlkireWarren AndersonEileen ArbuesEva ArnesonGary and Laurie BaumMs. Anne Bertaud-PeutoMrs. Katherine H. BlackMrs. Jeanne BobbittJacqueline BrotzMs. Helga BurrellsahlMrs. James A. BurrisPeter CartwrightJoy and Dennis CasciatoJudy CasperEd Chejlava and Tracy HarcourtDavid and Rebecca ConantArthur and Elena CourtDr. Christian E. CreteurBernard J. CumminsAnne CurtisChristina DavignonLynden Davis

William DavisDeirdre DawsonMartha DayBruce and Lynn DaytonCharles De GuigneSally DommerichTom and Jennifer EcclesMark EisnerMrs. Lois EnslowSylvia P. EvansPamela FarranceWilliam and Virginia FergusonMitch FongLynn FullerLiana and Scott GenovesiBeverly GeorgeClinton and Mary GillilandFritz and Susan GrauSusan GrayJudith and Robert GreberMary Jo GreenbergB. J. GriffinAnne HerbstJanet and Michael HoganVirginia InghamAnna JeffreyStan JensenJames and Thomaseen JensenDerry and Charlene KabcenellChristopher Kaufman and Carlyn ClementBonnie KayCarolyn Kennedy

Murray and Jeanie KilgourJanette KosloskyPhilip LathrapLeslie and Michael LebeauJames LechleitnerArabella and Robert LevorsenLawrence LevyThomas LitwilerBetty White LuddenCarma LuskinMary MaurerMargaret MawMark and Nancy MaymarColleen MedinnusLaura MillemanRichard NelsonArthur and Beatrice OlsonMichelle ReesCharles RiceMark and Heather RobertsMarilyn and George RoseMichael and Susan SchwartzAriel ShapiraMr. and Mrs. Leland ShillingRobert and Gail SmelickJennifer SpinachDarrell and Karen ThomasStephanie TravisGina TrincheroKristi and Clifford VaughanKathryn and Robert VizasBettina WarnerCarollee and William Webber

Elaine J. WeihmanChelsie WheelerRobert WilsonLorie Zerweck

Foundations, Corporations and TrustsBank of MarinBattelleBritex FabricsCell Genesys, Inc.The Gap FoundationWilliam G. Gilmore FoundationThe Gordon and Betty Moore FoundationWalter & Elise Haas FundHodge, Neiderer, Cariani LLCLoring, Wolcott & CoolidgeMarin Community FoundationMarin Independent JournalNoll & Tam ArchitectsThe Strong Foundation For

Environmental ValuesTurner Dale Associates, Inc.Wells Fargo

Donor-Advised FoundationsJewish Community Endowment FundMarin Community FoundationThe Overbrook FoundationPeninsula Community FoundationThe San Francisco FoundationSchwab Fund for Charitable GivingCommunity Foundation Silicon ValleyHarriette S. and Charles L. Tabas Foundation

BequestsThe Estate of Margaret A. CoffeyThe Daiss 1995 TrustEstate of Robert and Alice DeLeon1998 Cleo Colleen Jacinto TrustEstate of Ethelyn JohnsonMichael W. Lee Charitable Trust2001 Helen E. Leggo Revocable TrustEstate of Shirley I. NicollSelck Family Trust (John and Jane Selck)Estate of Robert N. Tremelling

Corporate Royalty PartnersMBNA AmericaDebora Gabris

Workplace GivingChevronTexacoMr. Craig HeylJaime N. KawanabeBank of America United Way CampaignAntoinette MitchellCharles RiceWilliam GalaJohn Pinnella

Matching GiftsBarclays Global Investors Matching

Gift Program

Online Philanthropy PartnersJustgive.org

The Marine Mammal Center gratefully acknowledges PRC donors, foundations, corporations, trusts and bequests with annual cumula-tive giving of $500 or more. This includes cash, stock, donor-advised, in-kind, and capital campaign gifts. The following list recognizesgifts received between May 1 and September 30, 2004. Annual giving levels will be acknowledged in our Annual Report newsletter.

Vol. 24 No. 3 | Fall / Winter 2004 | The Newsletter of The Marine Mammal Center

Learn about Sea Lions presented byThe Center. This event will be held at PIER 39 K dock in San Francisco at11 am and 1 pm.

11.14.04

S P E C I A L T H A N K S

Causes of stranding of California sea lions.Data compiled by The Marine Mammal Center.

Causes of Stranding Since 1991