The NW Marine Mammal Stranding Network (including Seal Sitters MMSN) has members trained in oil spill response and is on alert for any animals impacted by the oil spill this week (see WS Blog’s excellent coverage). An intense 3-day workshop in oil spill response with followup hands-on training was provided by NOAA following the Gulf catastrophe. Many members of the Northwest’s network received this training. Weaned seal pups are especially vulnerable, since the smallest bit of oil can greatly impact their tenuous health this time of year. Additionally, there is a private raft located close to (and now possibly within) the spill radius which is heavily used by adult seals and pups, river otters, cormorants and herons. Should you see any affected animals (or birds), please call Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-7325 and we will immediately notify the NWMMSN spill response team. Animals may be impacted for many weeks to come, so please be on the alert.