The Marine Mammal Center

The Marine Mammal Center The Marine Mammal Center is a nonprofit veterinary research hospital and educational center. We are dedicated to the rescue of ill and injured marine mammals.
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Since 1975, the Center has been headquartered in the Marin Headlands, Sausalito, Calif., within the Golden Gate National Park and has rescued and treated more than 20,000 marine mammals along 600 miles of the California coastline. In 2014, the Center opened Ke Kai Ola, a hospital for the rehabilitation of the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Due to the volume of an

imals we rescue, we are the largest marine mammal hospital in the world. The Marine Mammal Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which relies on 80% of its funding from individuals like you.

09/03/2026

Thanks to quick action and support from San Francisco Police Department's Marine Unit, California sea lion RuthB is safely recovering at our Sausalito hospital ๐Ÿฅ๐Ÿ’•

After finding the young sea lion on a boat deck at San Francisco's Hyde Street Pier, officers called our hotline out of concern for the animal's wellbeing and vessel operator safety. Thankfully, our trained responders were able to join officers at the Pier to rescue the visibly malnourished sea lion, now named RuthB.

Through an admission exam our veterinarians discovered RuthB was not only starving, but suffering from both pneumonia and rhinitis. Although initially quite lethargic, this resilient young sea lion began eating, brightened up, and is gaining weight and strength while in our care.

We are so grateful SFPD officers knew to give this animal plenty of space and call us to assist in responding. You can help animals like RuthB by doing the same (Be prepared! Save our hotline in your phone now ๐Ÿ“ฒ 415-289-7325) and sending nutritious fishy treats to hungry animals in need at the link in comments ๐ŸŸ

Symbolically adopt former patient Langly ๐Ÿ’™ Langly is a southern sea otter ๐Ÿฆฆ a threatened species found along the central...
09/03/2026

Symbolically adopt former patient Langly ๐Ÿ’™

Langly is a southern sea otter ๐Ÿฆฆ a threatened species found along the central coast of California. Langly and her mother were rescued after a shark had mistaken her for a meal ๐Ÿฅบ Our experts nursed Langly back to health, and she was released.

Sea otters are slowly making a comeback, and the Center is an important partner in recovery efforts.

To support sea otter rehabilitation, adopt Langly today at the ๐Ÿ”— link in the comments ๐Ÿค— NEW necklaces are now available so you can wear your support proudly. She's also available as a digital download or a physical certificate.

๐Ÿ“ท Bill Hunnewell

The votes are in... ๐ŸฅCongratulations to our talented volunteer Amanda for winning this year's holiday card design contes...
09/02/2026

The votes are in... ๐Ÿฅ

Congratulations to our talented volunteer Amanda for winning this year's holiday card design contest ๐Ÿ’Œ Cards will be available to shop online and in store soon for all your gift-giving needs.

09/01/2026

๐Ÿฆฆ Otter-ly cute! And paw-sitively important.

It's Sea Otter Awareness Month all September long. Kelp yeah!

Sea otters ๐Ÿ‘‡
๐Ÿฆ€ Eat abalone, clams, crab, mussels, sea urchins and snails
๐ŸŒฑ Wrap themselves in kelp to stay anchored while resting
๐Ÿชฎ Spend ~5 hours a day grooming to condition their fur and stay warm

For more facts and conservation stories about this resilient keystone species, follow:
The Marine Mammal Center
Defenders of Wildlife
Elakha Alliance
Sea Otter Savvy

๐Ÿ“น Bill Hunnewell

08/31/2026

Beginning early this summer, we have seen flare-ups of animals stranding with signs of domoic acid poisoning. These are primarily California sea lions, but also fur seals, and have recently been heavily concentrated on the Monterey Peninsula. Since we diagnosed the first case in marine mammals in 1998, this brutal disease has become much more unpredictable and intense. Here is how you can help ๐Ÿ‘‡

โ†”๏ธ Give wildlife at least 150 feet of distance for your safety, as well as for the animals and any nearby children or pets. All wildlife can be unpredictable, but sick animals are particularly stressed and disoriented.

โ˜Ž๏ธ Call our hotline at 415-289-7325 to report marine mammals in distress. Caring people like you play a critical role in these rescues by alerting our trained responders. Please know they are doing everything possible to help each animal in need.

๐Ÿคฒ In addition to giving wildlife space and reporting animals, you can contribute to these efforts by sharing this post to help spread the word, signing up to volunteer with us, or donating at the link in comments.

These are often labor-intensive responses involving multi-hundred-pound animals, with the busiest days seeing over 350 calls to our hotline. Our trained responders, who are almost exclusively volunteers, have successfully rescued hundreds of animals this summer. Theyโ€™ve also shared your heartbreak during distressing calls where patients begin seizing or pass away.

We are grateful for the care and support from our community, especially now ๐Ÿ’™ Please help us appreciate the dedicated individuals working tirelessly to help these animals with kind and encouraging words in the comments โœจ

08/30/2026

56 seconds of Hawaiian monk seal 'Eleu frolicking ๐Ÿฆญ๐ŸŒŠ

In 2021, 'Eleu arrived at our hospital in Hawai'i as an underweight pup that was weaned from her mother too soon ๐Ÿ˜ฐ After several months of expert rehabilitative care, 'Eleu returned to her ocean home.

With only 1,600 individuals left in the wild, her recovery was a win for this endangered species.

This heartwarming conservation moment is presented by Hawaiโ€™i Tourism Authority ๐Ÿ’™

๐Ÿ“น Heidi Nikolai

Hawaiสปi Tourism Authority Hawaiian Council Hawaii โ€“ gohawaii.com

Last chance to apply for Youth Crew 2027 ๐Ÿ™Œ Deadline is September 10 at 5pm PT.Youth Crew is an immersive opportunity for...
08/29/2026

Last chance to apply for Youth Crew 2027 ๐Ÿ™Œ Deadline is September 10 at 5pm PT.

Youth Crew is an immersive opportunity for aspiring conservationists to volunteer alongside our marine mammal experts ๐Ÿฆญ

Youth Crew volunteers ๐Ÿ‘‡
๐ŸŸ Get hands-on experience caring for patients
๐ŸŒŠ Learn about ocean conservation issues such as climate change and ocean trash
๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Become a youth educator engaging with others on marine science topics

No prior experience in animal care or public engagement required! RSVP for the September 3 Q&A session and get more details at the ๐Ÿ”— in the comments.

Our Tides & Treasures Market is TOMORROW! ๐ŸŒŠโœจJoin us for a free ๐Ÿ”† summer market ๐Ÿ”† featuring local makers and small busine...
08/28/2026

Our Tides & Treasures Market is TOMORROW! ๐ŸŒŠโœจ

Join us for a free ๐Ÿ”† summer market ๐Ÿ”† featuring local makers and small businesses. Swipe through โ†”๏ธ to see just some of our amazing vendors!

๐Ÿ“ Our Sausalito hospital
โฐ August 29, 2026 from 10am-2pm
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Reserve today to join the fun ๐Ÿ‘‰ Link in caption ๐Ÿ”—

Those nervous vibes before the first day of school ๐Ÿ˜ฅ๐ŸŽโœ๏ธ How would YOU caption this? Let us know in the comments โคต๏ธ Reme...
08/28/2026

Those nervous vibes before the first day of school ๐Ÿ˜ฅ๐ŸŽโœ๏ธ

How would YOU caption this? Let us know in the comments โคต๏ธ Remember: Be creative. Be funny. It's Caption Friday! ๐Ÿ—ฏ๐ŸŸ๐ŸŽ‰

๐Ÿ“ท Joanne Lasnier

Address

2000 Bunker Road
Sausalito, CA
94965

Telephone

415-289-SEAL (7325)

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