Thursday, August 24, 2017

Mystic Aquarium seeks marine rescue volunteers


Join the Animal Rescue Team!

Learning about marine animals is great. Coming eye-to-eye with them at Mystic Aquarium is even better. But being part of helping them out is the best! And now you can join the team and become a First Responder for our Animal Rescue Program.

Janelle Schuh, Mystic Aquarium's Stranding Coordinator for its Animal Rescue Program, answers your questions on upcoming training courses and shares her favorite part of the job.

First Responder Training

Click to Register

Q: What is a First Responder?
A: Just as it sounds - they are the first to respond to any reports of stranded marine animals, dead or alive. Our First Responders are located throughout our coverage area (which spans over 1,000 miles between CT, RI and Fisher's Island, NY) and are able to get to beaches faster than our teams here at the Aquarium.

Q: How do First Responders help the Animal Rescue Team?
A: They actually help the animals more than the team. Being the first line of response, they help to speed up the response time after a report has been called in to the hotline. First Responders are the catalyst to ensuring a stranded animal receives the proper attention in the most timely fashion.

Q: How does the work done at Animal Rescue Clinic make a difference?
A: What we're doing at the Animal Rescue Clinic is what we do best at Mystic Aquarium, and that's helping animals in need. We have the resources to make a difference in the lives of each marine animal that comes to us injured or ill and we always do whatever we can to help conserve natural populations.

Q: What is most rewarding about working with the Animal Rescue Team?
A: For me, it's working during harbor seal pup season. These pups come to us when they're 1 to 2 days old because mom has abandoned them for whatever reason. Caring for an animal that otherwise couldn't fend for itself is the ultimate responsibility. But when release day comes, and you're watching a once helpless animal return to it's natural environment, that is the greatest reward.

Q: How can I become a First Responder for my area?
A: Take our First Responder Training course! Just click the button above to find a training course near you.


AppThere's an app for that!


Mystic Aquarium now has an app! Get directions, find events, navigate our campus, learn about encounters and more. Download in the Google Play Store or iTunes by searching Mystic Aquarium.


Animal Spotlight: Giant Isopod 
Isopod
Many think the giant isopod resembles the land-dwelling pillbug or 'roly-poly,' which turns out to be a relative from the terrestrial crustacean family! These rugged-looking invertebrates live in ocean waters as deep as 7,000 feet and are carnivorous scavengers. Isopods can go without food for long stretches of time and have even been known to go up to four years without food in protected environments like aquariums.

Be sure to check out these fascinating critters at  the Weird & Wonderful exhibit during your next Aquarium visit.


You Can Help


Not sure if you should water your lawn? Take a walk! If you can see your footprints in the grass (meaning the blades don't spring back up), then it needs some hydration. Here are some other tips on how to keep your lawn properly watered:
  • Adjust your lawn mower height to 1.5 or 2 inches - taller grass provides shade for the roots and holds moisture in much better than short grass
  • After mowing, leave the clippings on your lawn to help cool the ground and keep it damp
  • Aerating your lawn periodically helps water to soak in to the roots rather than running off the surface


DIY Sea Salt Body Scrub

Make your own luxurious sea salt scrub with natural ingredients!
You'll need:
1 cup coarse sea salt
1/2 cup baby oil
  • Stir ingredients together in a bowl and put into a screw top jar
  • Let set for 24 hours
  • Stir the mixture and apply to any areas of the body you wish to exfoliate
  • Massage into the skin for a few minutes then rinse off
  • Pat your skin dry


Membership: Sea Change
Unlimited visits are great. Free 4-D is quite a perk. Clean oceans are life-giving. The benefits of a Mystic Aquarium membership are far-reaching.  We seek change through conservation, education and research. You sea change with your membership. Click here to join now! 


Mystic Aquarium's Corporate Sponsors 
Corporate Sponsors

The mission of Mystic Aquarium is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through conservation, education and research.



Mystic Aquarium  | 55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT  | 860.572.5955
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