Disclosure: Through Jen is on a Journey and Dawn Day in the Wildlife Blog Ambassador, I have been behind the scenes at both The Marine Mammal Center and the International Bird Rescue Center to see Dawn in action, and how these organizations make a difference. This is my experience.

It was just a few weeks ago when various contaminated birds began washing ashore around the East Bay. Well over 500, to be exact. Of these 500, 323 were taken into the International Bird Rescue center in Fairfield, CA, where team members there began a thorough rehabilitation of the birds. Unfortunately for the others, the contamination took their lives. No more birds have been admitted to the center since January 22nd, and the International Bird Rescue has been assured that the East Bay shorelines has been cleaned up since then.

A “Mystery Goo” substance is what had contaminated the birds. A substance that is still unknown to the International Bird Rescue center, and has perplexed many. A substance that feels just like Rubber Cement, and very life threatening to the birds coming ashore. The substance gets into their feathers, in which, may cause hypothermia in the birds.

Each bird, upon entrance to the center, would go through an Intake Evaluation, then be given a Dawn Bath. Because the Mystery Goo substance was so thick, just Dawn dish soap was not enough. A mixture of Vinegar and Baking Soda to help take off the rubbery substance in the feathers followed by a Dawn Bath would take place. In more cases, just one bath is needed, but some birds needed 2 baths during this process.

Evaluations take place often at the International Bird Rescue center. From first intake when the birds first arrive on scene, to times throughout their stay, and one final evaluation before they are released back into the wild.

Evaluations help determine the birds Health, and to see how they’re doing in their recovery process. On the day we visited the center, we saw birds receive medicine, being weighed, and having their blood taken by the various volunteers at the center. Each bird being wrapped in a towel during an evaluation. Lots of laundry happens at the center!

Volunteer at International Bird Rescue releasing a bird back into their Pool.

After an evaluation the birds are placed back into the pool area that they were assigned. Often times, upon placing them back into the pool, they test how they fly to see if they have any difficulties. All apart of the rehabilitation process.

Male Surf-Scoters in Recovery

Volunteers have been working non-stop to help these birds recovered. On Wednesday, January 28, the first 24 birds from the Mystery Goo substance were released back into the Wild (we saw this amazing release in person!) followed by another release of 50 birds this past Saturday. This morning, another 81 birds were released back into the East Bay area.

A Male Surf-Scoter being Released into the Wild Wednesday, January 28.

There are still 132 birds in recovery at International Bird Rescue’s San Francisco Bay center leaving them in emergency mode, caring for hundreds of seabirds covered in a mystery substance. To learn more and to find out how you can help the volunteers and the seabirds they are caring for, visit: http://bird-rescue.org/

Jamie is a contributor to Jen is on a Journey, born and raised a Minnesota Girl she has landed herself in California. She writes over at http://mngirlinla.com where she explores all things food, travel and wine.

Disclosure: I am a Dawn Ambassador. This is a 4 part series that unveils the use of Dawn Dish Soap out in the Wildlife. All stories and experiences are honest and real, All opinions belong to Jamie of MN Girl in the World on behalf of Jen is on a Journey. 

Hooray! It is World Animal Day (October 4th) and with that being said I keep thinking back to my experience at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA.

That experience truly opened my eyes to all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to rehabilitate animals back to health so they go on to continue a happy and healthy life. But, with that being said, NONE of it could happen without the amazing volunteers that spend hours upon hours of hard work, dedication at The Marine Mammal Center and also at the International Bird Rescue.

Dawn has been supporting these two organizations for a long time and has donated well over 55,000 Bottles of Dawn to help rehabilitate 75,000 animals back into the Wildlife. WOW, right?

So, without further ado, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU for all the volunteers that have given their time, dedication, support and so much more to make these animals healthy again.

Now, during my time at The Marine Mammal Center, I got to shadow an amazing volunteer by the name of Valerie Porter, as she showed me her day to day work at the center. I watched as she cleaned out a pen, and how they handled the animals at The Marine Mammal Center.

I also got to ask her a few questions, so be sure to take 2 minutes of your time to watch this FANTASTIC video:

Valerie has just been a volunteer at the center for a 1 and a half, but she is so dedicated and passionate to helping the animals. She talked animatedly about the processes utilized at the center along with some of her favorite memories. Right now she is going to school for Engineering, in hopes to become a Bio-Medical Engineer. That is one of the reasons she continues to volunteer at the center. The other? The animals, of course!

Wishing all of a Happy World Animal Day. May we all go out there to help saves those animals.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dawn Dish Soap. All opinions, and stories belong to Jamie of MN Girl in the World on behalf of Jen is on a Journey. This is one post apart of a 4 part series in relation to Proctor & Gamble and Dawn Dish Soap’s dedication to the Wildlife.

If there were 3 words to describe everything that happens at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA, they’d be: Hard Work, Dedication, and Passion. So, maybe those were 4 words.

When I was invited out to go behind the scenes at The Marine Mammal Center, I knew it was a center dedicated to rescuing animals, however, I had no idea about ALL the work that goes on behind the scenes.

Photo Credit: Middle Photo: Susan Goldman

Here’s a few fun facts:

This year alone, they have seen well over 900 animals come into the center!

During the busy season, staff and volunteers help sort up to 1000 lbs of fish a day because the animals eat that much!

Staff and Volunteers at the Marine Mammal Center help Rescue, Take Care of, and Release the Animals while also educating the public about the animals at the Center and their missions.

The Marina Mammal Center has three missions: Rescue and Rehabilitate sick and injured marine mammals, partner with leading scientists and others to learn about the mammals in their care along with expanding their advance scientific knowledge, and educating the public and scientific community to foster stewardship towards the care of our environment.

They make their own Salt Water, starting with just tap water, with their own filtration system right on property. It is illegal to take Salt Water from the Ocean.

All this work is done with just 45 Staff Members and 1100 Volunteers!

Dawn Dish Soap is the chosen choice of Dish Soap at The Marine Mammal Center because it was proven over and over again to be the BEST for animals. They have been partners since 2006.

Dawn has donated over 50,000 Bottles to both the Marine Mammal Center and the International Bird Foundation that has helped saved over 75,000 animals!

The Life of a Volunteer:

During my visit at The Marine Mammal Center I got to shadow a volunteer at the center for over a hour. My volunteer, Valerie Porter, has been a volunteer for over a 1 and a half, but the one thing I got from her was how TRULY passionate she was to be there.

As she told me about the center and explained the processes of what we would be doing, it dawned on me how dedicated these over 1100 volunteers are to the center. Valerie helps out at the center every Friday starting a little after 8 in the morning and working until the work is done. During the busy season, volunteers can put in 12 to 14 hour days to make sure these animals are taken care of. She does this while also going to school full time. It is her desire to become a bio-medical engineer.

Me with my Volunteer Valerie Porter

During my time of shadowing her, I learned the process of weighing an animal at the center along with the process of cleaning a pen. It is HARD work.

Valerie and her team demonstrated how they moved a Sea Lion out of the pen and into a carrier so they could weigh it:

Photo Credit: Susan Goldman

The volunteers utilize Rescue Boards. These boards help guide the animal in the direction that is needed to go along with helping to protect the volunteers. These Sea Lions have mouths with TEETH, and their bites hurt. One of Valerie’s favorite memories is when a Sea Lion kept biting one of the boards in use while they helped guide him out of a pen.

Along with helping guide the animals, clean pens, volunteers also help to sort and feed the animals at the center. We got to help with the process of sorting the food:

Sorting fish with The Rebel Chick.

Photo Credit: Susan Goldman

The Release of the Animals:

The end goal for EVERY animal that comes into the Marine Mammal Center is to be put back into the Wildlife. Although, there are some that do not make it.

BUT, the best part, always, is when they do get rehabilitated, and they find their way back home. The average stay for an animal at the center is just 6 weeks.

Truly, the best part of our day at the center was when we were able to watch 3 Sea Lions be released back into the Wild. Can you feel the excitement?

Because we were. This was an once in a lifetime experience. Releases are never made public, and the only time others happen to see as if they’re on the beach when the release happens.

See for yourself how these animals reacted:

Photo Credit: Susan Goldman

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Dawn Dish Soap and The Marine Mammal Center for this amazing experience that will forever be ingrained in my memory. Be sure to keep an eye out for future stories as we talk more in depth about these organizations and showcase videos of our in depth Day in the Wildlife at The Marine Mammal Center.

For more information be sure to check out Dawn Saves Wildlife.