Volunteering | Mammals
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Tactile Training | Hugh 
In Nature documentaries when a researcher wants to physically examine a large wild animal you often times see them shoot a dart containing a sedative to immobilize the creature or physically restraining them with nets or ropes. Here at the Aquarium of the Pacific we have a different approach. We gain their trust so they allow us to physically examine them without fear and without the need of restraints.
Volunteering | Birds
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Lola the Cockatoo Starts a Race | Hugh
Possibly the best known animal at the Aquarium of the Pacific is not a shark or a sea lion. He doesn’t even know how to swim! He is Lola the Cockatoo.
Video | Volunteering | Mammals
Thursday, September 23, 2010
SEA OTTER SPEED SWIM | Hugh
To the casual observer sea otters look like land animals that just happen to spend a lot of time in the water. Their appearance seems to make one think that at best they are slow, awkward swimmer. However while playing an impromptu game of follow-the-leader with the Aquarium of the Pacific’s newest otter, Big Maggie, in front of the sea otter exhibit I discovered that they can be quite swift swimming through the water.
Volunteering | Mammals
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Miller the Sea Lion Retires | Hugh
His paintings have caused bidding wars at auctions. His kisses have made women, and men swoon. If he sneezed on you, you wouldn’t want to wipe it off. He is…The Most Interesting Sea Lion in the World. And he is retiring.
Video | Volunteering | Mammals
Thursday, August 26, 2010
THREE YEARS OF AQUARIUM BLOGGING | Hugh
This month marks the beginning of my fourth year of blogging about the seals, sea lions, sea otters and other Aquarium critters that I have been fortunate enough to work around every Saturday during my volunteer shifts. Back in August of 2007 I started writing a bi-weekly blog about my experiences at the Aquarium of the Pacific since the day it opened in 1998. I’ve also sometimes written about some of my other experiences in the 20 plus years I’ve been involved in volunteering my time in researching, rescuing, and rehabilitating marine mammals in Southern California. This week I’m opening up the archives and highlighting 15 of the 80 blogs that I have written for the Aquarium’s website.
Volunteering | Mammals
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Observations of a Sea Otter Foraging at Moss Landing | Hugh
While traveling in Northern California a couple of weeks ago I took a side trip to try to catch a glimpse of the sea otters of Moss Landing. I was fortunate to come upon a young male sea otter foraging in the harbor. Watching the behavior of this otter gave me a better insight into the sea otters that I work with at the Aquarium of the Pacific during my Saturday volunteer shifts. In this blog I’d like to share some of my field observations of this Moss Landing otter.
Volunteering | Birds | Mammals
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
FIVE NEAT THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER AT THE AQUARIUM | Hugh
Help train an otter. Check out how a snake’s skin feel. Listen to a Cockatoo ask and answer his own questions. Prepare vitamins for a sea lion in a virtual food prep room. This are just some of the neat things you can do this summer at the Aquarium of the Pacific
Volunteering | Mammals
Thursday, July 15, 2010
SUMMER SEA LION FUN | Hugh
With frisbee in hand and a critter ready to catch it, Summer is the time for this volunteer to have some fun in the sun with a California sea lion.
Volunteering | Mammals
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Enjoying the New Sea Otter Exhibit | Hugh
If you haven’t been to the Aquarium of the Pacific in a while this summer may be a good time for a visit. The new and improved otter exhibit is quite stunning to witness in person. It actually gives you the feel of being out on the coast of Central California in the aquatic habitat of Enhydra lutris, the sea otter.
Video | Volunteering | Mammals
Friday, June 18, 2010
ADVENTURES IN OTTER SPACE PART THREE | Hugh
Having helped care for the orphan sea otter Maggie since the night she arrived at the Aquarium of the Pacific I learned a lot about her personality and a lot about sea otters in general. And the furball also learned a few things herself when she was introduced to the other sea otters of the Aquarium. Like how to use her armpits as pockets.
