Become a Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Volunteer!
TMMSN training days are held quarterly. The next training date will be Saturday, August 30, from 8-4 pm. Contact tmmsn@tamug.edu or call the State Office at (409)740-4455 if you would like to attend.
Thank you for your
interest in TMMSN!
There are many
aspects of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network that
volunteers may become involved with including education, live animal
rehabilitation, research, and more.
In order to become a volunteer, you must be at least 18 years of age and attend a training session (held quarterly). Training sessions usually run from 9am-3pm. There is a lecture series in the morning and in-water training in the afternoon. The only price to attend is the annual membership fee, which is $30 per individual and $15 per student. This may be pre-purchased on-line, or when you come to the training day during registration.
Please let us know if you would like to attend and we will reserve your spot today! We will send an e-mail out approximately one week prior to the training with more information (where to meet, what to bring, etc…). Thanks again for your interest.Volunteer Opportunities
Research... RESCUE...
Because most of the animals that we recover are already dead, we use
this opportunity
to conduct research on the tissues and organs. A necropsy might be
conducted on the
beach or in a lab depending on the circumstances.
Whenever TMMSN receives a call to retrieve a live animal, seasoned
veterans respond to the call for help. The Dolphin Rescue Team
(composed of Critical Care Team Members) moves quickly to ensure a
high probability of survival for the animal.
REHAB…
Whenever a live animal is rescued, 24-hour care is required for the
complete recovery of the animal. Volunteers fill 4-hour shifts for
round-the-clock supervision. Some of their responsibilities include:
assisting with medical procedures, animal restraint, monitoring and
recording behavior and physical state of the animal, and monitoring
the water filtration system.
Care of the animal involves: 1) feeding at different stages of
development and recovery, 2) blood sampling, 3) weighing, and 4)
environmental enrichment. Blood sampling aids in identifying
illnesses, and a gain in weight indicates normal metabolic activity.
Care for animals that will not be released back into the wild includes
husbandry training.
RELEASE…
Release is a bitter-sweet moment for all volunteers who have been
involved with an animal’s care and treatment. Release is determined
by a number of factors: 1) age and maturity, 2) overall health, 3)
swimming and foraging abilities, and 4) length of time devoid of
medication. The decision to release an animal is made by National
Marine Fisheries Service with input from several individuals at
TMMSN.
A trac-pac is fitted to the dorsal fin of the animal to be released.
The purpose is to track the movements of the recently-released
animal. Within a few weeks, the magnesium bolts holding the trac-pac
to the fin will disintegrate and fall off.