National Marine Life Center's Seal Pup room Opens

CAPE COD, Mass. - July 10, 2015 - PRLog -- (Buzzards Bay, MA)(July 10, 2015)  The National Marine Life Center is delighted to announce the opening of its “Pup Room” in the Center’s Buzzards Bay hospital.  The room’s first patient, Raspberry,  was admitted on July 1.

         The room was partially donated and entirely built by two of NMLC’s most dedicated volunteers, Wendy and Mark Wyman. Wendy has been part of the NMLC animal care team for over six years and understands the needs of the pups.  Supplies for the room were provided by a combination of donations from Home Depot stores in Wareham and Plymouth, and discounted supplies from Lowe’s Home Improvement.

         The hospital is currently caring for  8 seals, and the new room will allow NMLC to attend to more animals in need, and adds flexibility to hospital. The 6X9 foot room with a 2 1/2 foot deep pool sunken into the floor, will accommodate up to three more seal pups at any one time. With the closure of the University of New England’s Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center in 2014, the National Marine Life Center is expecting more than three times the number of seal patients in their facility this year.

NMLC’s seal pup patients will still attend “swim school” in the larger tanks prior to release, gaining the swimming and fishing skills they need in order to be released back into the ocean once they’re healthy enough. NMLC’s Animal Care & Facilities Coordinator says, “The pup room couldn’t have been completed at a better time; there is a greater demand for NMLC’s rehab space than ever before.” The room was approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service as operational rehabilitation space onTuesday, and admitted its first patient on Wednesday.  Raspberry, an abandoned female harbor seal pup from Biddeford, ME, was rescued less than a mile from UNE’s former rehabilitation facility. Naming rights to the first animal to inhabit the space was giving to the Wymans, who selected “Raspberry”. NMLC’s seal naming theme this year is herbs and spices; raspberry leaf is a healing herb often used in teas.

         The National Marine Life Center is located at 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay. A 501(c)(3), NMLC rehabilitates and releases stranded marine mammals and sea turtles in order to advance science and education in marine wildlife health and conservation.  The NMLC Discovery Center offers a wide range of programs and exhibits for all ages centered around its mission, and visitors can view the tanks via webcam and screens in the Center.

         Funds for the NMLC are raised throughout the year, with the central event being the Mermaid Masquerade Ball.  This year’s ball will be on August 14, 2015 at the Waverly Oaks Club in Plymouth.  For more information on the center, visit www.nmlc.org, and for details on the Ball, visit www.mermaidball.com.