Mojo the Sea Lion: Satellite Tracking

Update: August 2012

Mojo's tag has stopped transmitting. It was last heard from when Mojo was just north of Sitka, Alaska. The sensor histograms show that Mojo was still actively diving and hauling out around the time the tag failed. It's unclear whether the tag dropped off when he molted or some other fate befell him.

Video by Robin Lindsey

Introduction

On February 16, 2012 the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Mammal Investigations responded to a six-month-old Steller sea lion pup stranded at Pacific Beach, Washington. They collected the emaciated pup and transferred it to Wolf Hollow Rehabilitation Center on San Juan Island for stabilization, treatment, and care. Staff members named the pup “Mojo”. He responded well to rehabilitation and more than doubled his weight. On May 29, 2012 he was released wearing a temporary satellite transmitter designed to track his movements post-release.

Project Partners

This is project of NOAA’s Northwest Marine Mammal Stranding Network, which responds to stranded marine mammals in Washington and Oregon. The stranding response, rehabilitation and post-release monitoring was made possible, in large part, through the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. Collaborating network groups that made this project possible include the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Mammal Investigations, Wolf Hollow Rehabilitation Center, SeaDoc Society, and NOAA's Protected Resources Division.

Project Sponsors

The stranding response, rehabilitation and post-release monitoring was made possible, in large part, through the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. In-kind contributions also were provided by Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, the SeaDoc Society, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.