Submitted by Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

We at Wolf Hollow were saddened to read about the situation described in the July 26 Islands Sounder article, “Most Stranded Harbor Seal Pups Cannot be Rescued.” There is one point we hope to clarify. The statement “She phoned Wolf Hollow… but was told that the harbor seal population was so high that there would be no effort to save the pup,” does not accurately reflect our position and may further confuse the public about the role Wolf Hollow plays in relation to stranded harbor seal pups.

Any stranded seals must be reported to our local Marine Mammal Stranding Network. The network makes an assessment and coordinates action with available rehabilitation centers if necessary. Wolf Hollow is not authorized to assess marine mammals, including harbor seals, on the shore.

We treat a wide range of species at Wolf Hollow and our mission is to provide life-sustaining care for an individual orphaned or injured animal. We don’t make decisions to care for an animal based on the population of the species.

On the topic of caring for seal pups, I should mention that Wolf Hollow faces a separate challenge with the recent loss of grant funding that has historically supported marine mammal rehabilitation. For the first time in 30 years, we are unable to treat seal pups this season and are actively seeking funds to reestablish the program. The specialized care required for seals costs an estimated $3,000 each, or $30,000 annually. We’re also sizing some necessary facilities upgrades to our marine mammal habitats. It is our sincere hope that we can overcome this short-term challenge and resume our marine mammal program by next season.

In the meantime, we continue to care for hundreds of other species of animals that arrive at our center each day – roughly 500 animals every year. If you have any questions about Wolf Hollow or our marine mammal program, I can be reached at 360-317-8120 or aseyler@wolfhollowwildlife.org.