Featured Image Credit: Marine Mammal Center Facebook
In October a southern sea otter that was being rehabilitated at the Marine Mammal Center in California was released back into the wild at Pillar Point Harbor Beach in Half Moon Bay. The otter had been at the Marine Mammal Center since July after being found underweight and lethargic.
The otter, named Yankee Doodle was at the center being treated for toxoplasmosis and domoic acid infection. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite and can be fatal in some cases. Luckily for Yankee Doodle, rescuers got to him in time to treat him successfully.
While at the Marine Mammal Center, Yankee Doodle also received a transmitter tag so that rescuers can keep an eye on his progress as he to his regular life in the Half Moon Bay area. They will use the tag to periodically check his location as he adjusts back to being in the wild.
The Marine Mammal center in Sausalito is frequently called in for rescues of this nature as they are a noted first responder for sea otters across a 600-mile rescue range. Southern sea otters are now a threatened species after years of abundance on the California coast. Rescues like this are a critical part of the conservation efforts.