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PUPS, AHOY
Flowers aren’t the only things
popping up this season.
By Kasia Pawlowska
Everyone talks about the wildflowers that blanket hills this time of year (hello, super bloom),
but Emily Whitmer, a veterinarian at the Marine
Mammal Center, says early spring is also a prime
time to see all kinds of sea mammal pups covering Marin County shores, including elephant
seals, California sea lions and harbor seals. It’s a
privilege to get to witness these critters, and much
as you’d want to get close, please be respectful
and give them space. “Take a moment to evaluate how close you are and use the zoom on your
camera to get the shot,” Whitmer says. “If the
animal’s behavior is changing — it’s lifting its
head and looking around, for example — you’re
too close.” If you feel the animal appears to be in
danger, call the Marine Mammal Center hot line at
415.289. SEAL. The center annually receives over
10,000 calls, fielded by teams of trained dispatchers and trained responders who are able to assess
the situation properly. Seals aren’t the only ones
making appearances in the area: in early March,
two gray whales were seen feeding and swimming in the bay near Tiburon. Last year about 20
gray whales made their way into the bay between
February and May, and some stayed as long as a
month. Best place to view them? “Top of Angel
Island,” center cetacean researcher Bill Keener
says. “Cavallo Point and Tiburon are also great
spots.” Look for spouts. marinemammalcenter.org
POSITIVE GROWTH
In honor of Arbor Day, ideas for keeping it green around the North Bay.
By Jessica Gliddon
in at Alston Park on
April 25 from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m., and enjoy a
bite to eat and family
entertainment when
the planting’s done.
cityofnapa.org
SPACE INVADERS
On the third Saturday
of each month the
Marin Municipal
Water District leads
volunteer habitat
restoration efforts
from 9 a.m. to noon;
PLANTING
COMMISSION
Every year the city
of Napa honors
Arbor Day in the
most appropriate
way: it's planted
over 1,000 trees in
the past 30 years.
Volunteers learn as
they work, getting
educated about tree
species suited to
the Napa climate
and proper planting
techniques. Pitch
this month’s event,
April 18, focuses on
controlling invasive
species such as French
broom and Douglas fir.
The sites chosen for
this work are scenic,
accessible and family-
friendly. marinwater.org
YOUTH CREWS
For almost three
decades the
Conservation Corps
North Bay has enlisted
people ages 18 to 30
to help restore
nature and reduce
waste. CCNB’s
Natural Resources
Program provides
training and work
experience. Volunteer
crews have restored
trails, reduced fire
fuel and planted
thousands of trees
across the northern
Bay Area — 6,792
last year alone.
ccnorthbay.org/
natural-resources-crews
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VOLUNTEER
Whale migration
Bobber the harbor seal explores his rehabilitation pen
during treatment at The Marine Mammal Center.
