Volume III, Appendices EM - National Marine Fisheries Service ...

Intake Procedures
Initial Intake Procedures
While completing intake procedures, it is important to perform a thorough evaluation, collect all
samples and data, be safe, and minimize the animal handling time. All personnel performing
intake procedures should wear appropriate PPE including safety goggles, protective clothing, and
nitrile gloves (or nitrile gloves inside leather gloves). It is best to work in teams of at least two
(handler, examiner) or three (handler, examiner, recorder) in order to perform the intake in an
efficient manner. For larger animals, more than one handler may be required. Physical restraint
devices such as squeeze cages, otter restraint boxes, and stuff bags may be needed for larger
pinnipeds and sea otters (Geraci and Lounsbury, 1993; Williams and Sawyer, 1995). Some animals
(e.g., sea otters, adult sea lions) may require chemical restraint for safe handling and examination
(Williams and Sawyer, 1995; Haulena and Heath, 2001).
Several different forms must be completed for every animal captured for rehabilitation during an
oil spill. The animal must first be logged into a Live Marine Mammal Data Log (example in
Appendix 2) and all of the boxes on that form must be completed. In addition, an Oiled Marine
Mammal Intake Form (example in Appendix 4) must be completed for each animal. This form
contains important questions about the extent of oiling, location and depth of oiling, as well as a
place for documenting physical examination findings. In addition to the intake form, the
rehabilitation facility’s standard forms for stranded marine mammals can be used to record
physical exam findings, laboratory values, treatments, and feedings, provided that all information
is clearly documented and assigned to the specific animal.
A brief physical examination is performed upon admission of each individual oiled animal (see
below). A veterinarian or animal care specialist should conduct the examination and treat any
conditions that are considered to be life threatening. The capture, transport, and intake process is
extremely stressful and an oiled animal’s condition may be very unstable. The intake area should
be as dark and quiet as is practical and animals must be monitored closely during the examination
and intake process. If an animal’s condition deteriorates and a veterinarian is not participating in
the examination, seek veterinary advice immediately.
General Intake Procedure for Oiled Marine Mammals
1. Obtain and Complete Intake Forms
Live Mammal Data Log
Oiled Marine Mammal Intake Form
2. Physical Examination
3. Flipper tag application
4. Oil sample collection
5. Photograph
Animals need to be identified to species and, when possible, age class (pup, yearling, subadult,
adult) and sex should be determined. Consult charts on age estimation for pinnipeds and sea
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