New York Marine Rescue Center internship. by Julia Marsala
December 19, 2023
Open gallery
Over this summer I had the honor of working at the New York Marine Rescue Center. The New York Marine Rescue Center is the only place in New York that is permitted to rehabilitate sea turtles. The NYMRC and their volunteers respond to rescue calls for 1,850 miles of coastline in hopes to help sea turtles, seals, and small toothed whales. I was granted the privilege of working hands-on with these beautiful animals they rescued each day. My daily tasks included feedings, sea turtle shell cleanings, tours for guests and upkeep of the facility. As often as once a week I would assist in a physical exam for either a sea turtle or seal. As much as I enjoyed working with sea turtles I thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of working with seals. Their feisty demeanor made interactions with them much more exhilarating. Seals because of their aggressive behavior alone had very unique personalities that presented themselves much more than the sea turtles.
Since I completed my internship at the NYMRC in the summer I got the privilege of seeing what the staff calls “release season.” This is the part of animal rehab that’s truly amazing. All of the work as a caretaker pays off and you get to see animals return to their natural home. Assisting in releases was incredibly special because of the public turnout to see our animals return home. Often there would be cheering for our turtles and seals when they hit the water and the pure joy in the air is indescribable. This was especially rewarding at sea turtle releases because the turtles were released in groups of 10 or sometimes more! Seal releases had their own glory; each seal was released individually and the crowd was kept quiet as they were galumphing down the sand. While watching the seal pop up in the water the crowd would cheer for its return home. Being a part of this was something I will forever be proud of and I am incredibly excited to return to the rescue center whenever I am on Long Island.