Animal Updates | Mammals | Conservation | Volunteering
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Adventures in Otter Space | Hugh 
Epilogue
As my adventures with Gidget the orphan Sea Otter draws to a close I’d like to share the full story of my relationship with her during her time in Long Beach.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering | Whale Watching
Monday, January 07, 2013
Hiding From Killer Whales | Hugh
Grays Whale use Kelp Forest to hide from Orcas
On New Years Day 2013, four killer whales from the pod known as CA-51 swam past Point Vicente where I was helping out the Gray Whale Census Project spot cetaceans. As I went down to the cliff side to get a better angle on the orcas my wife Pam yelled at me to look down. When I did I was surprised to see two gray whales apparently hiding out in the kelp below the cliff.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Video | Volunteering
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Happy Holidays From The Otters | Hugh
As a holiday treat for our otter fans I’d like to share a video of the sea otters enjoying their snowman and treats during this month’s Holiday Treats for the Animals festivities.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, December 06, 2012
A Snowman for the Otters | Hugh
An Annual Tradition Continued
During the annual Holiday Treats for the Animals festival it has become a tradition for me to build the first snowman of the season for the sea otters in their exhibit. I will be sharing some images and annecdotes on this year’s creation.
Animal Updates | Penguins | Volunteering
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Penguin Love Triangle | Hugh
The Soap Opera in June Keyes
Throughout the spring it was a wonderful duet. The elder penguin from San Diego would call out to his mate and the young female from Brazil would answer in kind. Then a young male from San Francisco entered the picture…
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Why I Love the Furball | Hugh
Top 10 Reasons
Gidget is my favorite sea otter. When I miss my Aquarium volunteer shift due to being out of town on business trips I tend to go through otter withdrawal symptoms from not being around this adorable ball of fur. Why do I have such affection for this member of the Enhydra lutris species? Here are the top ten reasons why I love the Furball.
Animal Updates | Birds | Mammals | Turtles | Conservation | Volunteering
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Strolling Down the River with a Sea Turtle | Hugh
Hugh's Field Notes from the San Gabriel River
Strolling down the river with a sea turtle. A falcon hunts egrets and grebes. Sea lions creatively foraging in the river. A look at some of my field notes from a summer of Green Sea Turtle research at the San Gabriel River.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Come See Betty the Sea Otter | Hugh
The Princess Otter
Fall’s cool weather has finally arrived in Long Beach and a cool otter has finally arrived. Betty, the baby otter named after Betty White, has been introduced to the older female otters in the main exhibit. She can now be seen daily by Aquarium guests playing with the other otters and scurrying around the exhibit.
Animal Updates | Mammals | Volunteering
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Otter Life Lessons | Hugh
Observations from Otter Space
Sea Otters are super cool animals. Since starting my Adventures in Otter Space with the experience of raising Furball, aka Gidget, the orphaned pup years ago I’ve learned a lot about sea otters. I’ve also learned a lot from them. Here are some Otter Life Lessons to ponder.
Animal Updates | Penguins | Volunteering
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Newsom | Hugh
The Personable Penguin
When he first came to the Aquarium, Newsom was a shy young penguin who had yet to develop the head stripe that characterizes his species. Today after going through his first molt Newsom now has a stripe and a curiosity for people that adores himself to participants in Penguin Encounters and to VIPs and media folks on his field trips.
