The San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network (SJCMMSN) is currently recruiting volunteers on all islands in preparation for the upcoming stranding season. Members of the network respond to calls of both live and dead marine mammals that come ashore or wash up on local beaches.

Amy Traxler, Coordinator of the SJCMMSN, says that “even though we do response work year-around, June through August is the busiest time due to all the harbor seal pups that come ashore.”

There will be a mandatory training class for volunteers (old and new) on Tuesday, June 9, in Friday Harbor. The class will be held in the upstairs classroom at the fire station across from The Whale Museum from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

There is also a tentatively scheduled training class for Lopez Island volunteers on June 16 on Lopez.

For more information, call Amy at The Whale Museum at 378-4710 x27 or email her at amy@whalemuseum.org.