Mammal momma

For the past 19 years, Michele Hunter has been Orange County’s unofficial pinniped matriarch. As the director of operations/animal care for Laguna Beach’s Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Hunter oversees the rescue and rehabilitation of dozens of distressed seals and sea lions each year.

Under Hunter’s direction, about 70 animal care volunteers and 10 education volunteers retrieve sick and injured aquatic mammals along a 42-mile strip of coastline that runs from the shores of Seal Beach to the cliffs of San Onofre. The center averages 200 rescues a year with a success rate of about 70%, according to Hunter.

From the moment these at-risk sea mammals are plucked from beaches and harbors until they’re strong enough to survive in the wild, center staffers are there nursing them back to health.

One rescuee, Rosita, a baby harbor seal, spent her first nights with the center in a baby’s bassinet.

“I feel extremely fortunate to work with animals and for an organization that I am passionate about,” Hunter said. “Even after a 14- to 16-hour day, knowing you’ve made a difference in the lives of these animals, makes you keep coming back. We also have the important opportunity to speak on their behalf to members of the public that visit our center and afford them the opportunity to see first hand what some of the animals are recovering from.”

Careful handling required

The animals are tube-fed with a rich blend of warm water, herring pieces, Karo Syrup and fish oil. A marine mammal milk replacement is administered to the very young as well. They also receive a daily vitamin — formulated for marine mammals — and antibiotics if prescribed. During the height of the busy season, center staffers may perform 100 tube feedings in one day.

Although the Pacific Marine Mammal Center offers the best of care, the atmosphere of the center is anything but tranquil. Restraining and feeding these disoriented animals is difficult and their bites are often worse than their barks.

“They do bite and yes it does hurt,” Hunter said. “But we are careful to never let our guard down around these wild animals. When handling them we wear protective gloves, clothing and boots.”