San Francisco is a way point on the migration trail for marine mammals from seals to whales heading for warmer waters in the winter and cooler oceans in the summer. Unfortunately, the Pacific migration route is also an important shipping route and one that suffers from human activities that pollute the water and harm sea life. From their veterinary and research facility nestled in the Marin Headlands of Sausalito, the Marine Mammal Center rescues, treats and re-releases into the wild hundreds of harbor seals, elephant seals and sea lions each year that are impacted by illness or accident on the Bay Area’s shores. Visiting the Center is free and puts you up close to the wild animals temporarily housed in large fenced pens while they await or recover from treatment.
