Animal Training and Research,
International
&
SLEWTHS Project
Science, Learning, and Exploration
With the Help of Sea lions
END OF THE YEAR SUMMARY
2014
1
Research
Testing Electronic Barriers as a Deterrence Method with California sea lions:
This year SLEWTHS and Smith-Root, Inc. continued their several year
collaboration on the use of electronic fields to deter marine mammals. Dr. Zeligs and
colleague Carl Burger continued to consult for several west coast harbor masters
regarding their problems with sea lions inhabiting infrastructure. Smith Root, Inc. hired
Dr. Zeligs to assist Exxon mobile who was similarly facing problems with sea lion
inhabitance on one of their oil rigs in Santa Barbara. Dr. Zeligs traveled down to Santa
Barbara in early 2014 to aide in the assessment of the oil platform for a deterrence
barrier. A barrier was installed and proved successful in deterring sea lions during a
construction phase where the activities on the platform might have posed a risk to the sea
lions. Further deployments of electronic barriers on oil rigs are now being considered.
Metabolic Effects of Prey Encounter Rates and Transit Costs:
In 2012, the Science Learning and Exploration With The Helps of Sea lions
(SLEWTHS) project at California State Universities partnered with Alaska Pacific
University graduate student, Tori Norrell, to quantify how the foraging behavior of 1.1
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) relates to their metabolic rates and their
behavior, and how different levels of foraging effort may affect the animal’s metabolism.
In 2014 the work was finalized for publication and is now under review with the Journal
of Experimental Biology.
Whisker Research
This year SLEWTHS partnered with University of California, Santa Cruz
graduate student, Liz McHuron, to measure pinniped vibrissae using 1.2 of our California
Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) to see the whisker growth dynamics using
photogrammetry. Each month we are taking several calibrated photos of our animals’
whiskers to monitor growth and loss of whiskers. Stable isotope analysis of vibrissae can
provide a temporal record of foraging behavior in pinnipeds, and is one of the few
methods available to measure individual behavior over a relatively long time period.
Despite the increasing use of this method, an understanding of vibrissal growth dynamics
is lacking for most pinniped species, yet is necessary for appropriate study design and
interpretation of isotope data. This study will provide the first measurements of growth
rates and growth and shedding patterns in spotted seals (Phoca largha) and California sea
lions (Zalophus californianus) using photogrammetry of captive animals (nspotted = 2,
nsealion = 5). These data may have implications for the utility of this method in assessing
spotted seal foraging behavior and for appropriate application of growth rates in assessing
vibrissa age in otariids.
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Publications, Presentations, Proposals and Permits (P4)
Publications
- Numerous overhauls and edits were made to the SOP manuals for the Encounters
and regular laboratory operations.
- Dr. Jenifer Zeligs published Animal Training 101: The complete and practical
guide to the art and science of behavior modification. 2014. Minneapolis: Mill
City Press.
- Dr. Jenifer Zeligs wrote a Moss Landing Marine Laboratories newsletter report in
January 2014
- The staff as a whole wrote and published 1 volume of our Inspiring Minds
Newsletter (10/14) and Dr. Zeligs produced a 2013 end of year report.
- Neises V, Zeligs J, Harris B and Cornick L (In review Journal of Experimental
Biology). Breath by breath: The metabolic cost of otariid foraging under varying
conditions.
Presentations and conference participation
Dr. Jenifer Zeligs and Stefani Skrovan attended the Western Fairs Conference in
Anaheim, CA to present the Sea lion Encounters Public Outreach Program January 6-7,
2014.
Carl Burger and Jenifer Zeligs presented “Non-Lethal Electric Guidance Barriers for Fish
and Marine Mammal Deterrence: A Review for Hydropower and Other Applications” to
the 144th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Quebec City, Canada
(August 21, 2014). The paper was an invited presentation in the session titled Marine
Mammal and Fisheries Interactions: Management Challenges in a Changing World.
Dr. Jenifer Zeligs attended the International Animal Training Conference at the Twycross
Zoo, England October 5-8, 2014. She presented “The Six Basic Operant Techniques of
Animal Training” as an invited workshop presentation, and was awarded the People’s
Choice Award for her presentation. 
The project participated in a local Moss Landing Craft fair by offering paintings made by
our sea lions.
Proposals and Permits
-Renewed our APHIS public display license.
-Renewed IACUC protocol #887
-Applied for and received a new IACUC permit #1009
-Applied for a new IACUC permit #1015
3
Education and Public Outreach
Sea Lion Stewards Environmental Education Program and Beach clean-up activities
SLEWTHS conducted 17 Sea Lion Stewards half-day programs for over 486
participants who collected over 83 lbs of garbage from our local beach in the process.
Sea Lion Encounters Public Outreach Program
Based on daily performance tallies, approximately 34,000 people attended performances
of Sea Lion Encounters in 2014.
Sea Lion Encounters was featured at:
- The Stockton Asparagus Festival in Stockton, CA: April 25th-27th, 2014
- The Sonoma County Fair: July 24th - August 10th, 2014
- The Madera County Fair: September 4th – September 7th, 2014
Tours for MLML, CSU, and other academic institutions
14 private tours and/or demonstrations were provided on-site by SLEWTHS.
- 1/31/14 Tour for Kenneth Coale and prospective students.
- 3/24/14 Tour for MLML students
- 4/16/14 Tour for George Radojevic and family
- 4/24/14 Tour for Autumn Bonnema and family
- 5/3/14 MLML Open House – 2 sea lion demonstrations plus public viewing
- 5/4/14 MLML Open House – 2 sea lions demonstrations plus public viewing
- 5/30/14 Tour for Keith Skaug of LML and family
- 7/14/14 Visit from 7 employees from Curiodyssey, CA
- 8/21/14 Tour for 12 MLML new students
- 8/27/14 Tour for Kenneth Coale and graduate student
- 8/28/14 MLML In-house Open House
- 10/25/14 Moorpark College Exotic Animal Training and Management class came
for annual demonstration and seminar, 42 people
- 12/6/14 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) seminar and demonstration
- 12/10/14 Tour for Director of Moss Landing Craft Fair and family
Classes
-A total of 31 undergraduate students from the all over US attended 2 intensive
immersion classes in marine mammalogy through CSUMB extended education
department representing 6 different universities.
- Dr. Zeligs taught a half day seminar for 30 participants in the OLLI life-long learning
program at CSUMB.
4
Internships
- 31 day-long internships for class students were conducted
- 15 multi-day adult internships were also provided
- 8 Jr. Internships were provided for aspiring future marine mammalogists
- 7 Certificates of Completion in Marine Mammalogy were earned by people who
successfully completed both classes and a week-long internship.
Student projects
- Vickie-Lynne Crisosto and Amy Cavagnaro, both CSUMB students, completed
Service Learning projects with SLEWTHS
- Liz McHuron a UCSC doctoral student worked with SLEWTHS on a piece of her
doctoral research
Media
- Numerous interviews for local media were provided by SLEWTHS staff at each of
our public outreach events.
- SLEWTHS staff created numerous Facebook posts to promote ATR and SLEWTHS
activities and programs.
- Dr. Jenifer Zeligs did an interview in December 2014 with KSBW Channel 8 news
highlighting the sea lions paintings and being involved in a local craft fair.
- The Monterey Herald interviewed SLEWTHS for an article on 12/6/14 about our sea
lion paintings
Consulting and Contract Work
-
In January, Sake traveled down to Hollywood to perform in a Dos Equis Commercial
that aired in June.
-
Dr. Zeligs continued in 2014 to act as the marine mammal biologist consultant for
Smith-Root, Inc. and all associated marine mammal work with electronic barriers
done by Smith-Root, Inc.
5
Facilities
Projects
- Built a new tub step
- Raised the height of N4 enclosure by a foot and replaced the shade cloth structure
surrounding the enclosure
- Created a skirting to surround the Encounters trailer and protect the suspension from
the ill effects of salt air exposure
- Added safety grip strips to the stairs of the Encounters trailer
- Replaced all the fish kitchen valves
- Replaced the filter sand in our Sea Lion Encounters life support system
- Reconstructed the UV water filtration system and relocated it to prevent overheating
- Sumped out the main outflow caisson to remove years of accumulated debris and
protect the outflow pump
- Replaced all of T3 fencing with netting for a lighter and more sea lion friendly
transportable housing area for Sea Lion Encounters
- Recycled, broke down and disposed of all our old iron stages that had been used for
Sea lion Encounters
- Built a new sea lion seat to be maintained at our main facility
- Created new herding boards and a new cage rolling device
Acquisitions
- Created a new display for the merchandise tent at Sea Lion Encounters to replace the
older skulls display: an interactive “Sustainability and Healthy Oceans” board.
- Purchased a new 10ft encounters tent
- Purchased a new “biodegrade times” board for our Sea Lion Stewards education
program.
- Replaced the banks engine modification system in the Sea Lion Encounters tow
vehicle
- Purchased new microphones for Sea Lion Encounters performances
6
Animals
Behaviors started but not completed this year are called started, behaviors started and
completed this year are called learned, work in progress behaviors neither started nor
completed this year are called working on, and behaviors started in a previous year and
finished this year are called finished.
Sake
In March 2014 Sake underwent her second cataract removal surgery. She was trained
to cooperate in the entire anesthesia and recovery process voluntarily by transporting to a
remote hospital, self-masking and inhaling isoflurane gas and accepting numerous eye
drops post-op for three weeks in a dry pen. The surgery was a complete success and
Sake’s eye sight and apparent comfort are much improved.
-
Started Water Circle
Working on Relax
Working on Upset
Finished Otter
Finished Wiggle
Nemo
-
Started Superstar
Working on Upset
Working on voluntary truck transport
Working on Throw/Catch
Finished Walk
Ariel
In October 2014 Ariel underwent a tooth removal surgery at MLML. She voluntarily
entered a cage and rested while the chamber was infused with anesthesia. Six teeth were
removed and this resulted in the healing of an abscess on her chin that had been present
for some time. The procedure and recovery were a resounding success.
-
Started seal
Working on ultrasound training
Working on blood stick
Working on tactile desensitization
Working on compound training
Working on mark
Working on yes
Finished Flexible
Finished FC tooth brushing
7
Cali
-
Started Walk
Finished stomach tubing
Working on intern swim-with
Finished Sail
Shamu
-
Started Circle
Started Wing presents
Started Turkey
Started Backup
Working on Tactile
Working on Retrieve
Finished Peck the x
Finished Spirals
Lassie
Unfortunately, Lassie passed away in June 2014, from unknown causes.
-
Working on Wing presents
Working on Retrieve
Working on Tactile
Working on Spirals
8
Staff
4 new people were hired into Animal Care
(Vicki-Lynne Cristoso, Jana Martin, Angela Padilla, Marissa Jacky)
5 people left the project after an average longevity of 4.5 years
(Ashley Acridge(5.3yrs), Demi Dudley(1.0yrs), Tiana Hanna(4.9yrs),Dustin Petrie(3yrs ),Sophie Darling
(7.9yrs)
3 people became Senior Animal Care
(Demi Dudley, Austin Raymond, Jana Martin)
3 people became Assistant Trainers
(Melodie Lynn, Aubrianne Culbertson, Austin Raymond)
2 people became Trainers
(Amy Cavagnaro, Mel Freeborn)
2 people became Senior Trainers
(Michelle Jones, Alex Kjellgren)
2 people received their Multi-year Senior Trainer anniversary Badges
(Sophie Darling (4), Megan Cuzick(1))
Paid contracts:
Megan Cuzick and Amy Cavagnaro worked short-term single event contracts with SLEWTHS
this year while Michelle Jones worked on contract for the fair season. Sophie Darling continued
her full time employment with the program but left in October and was replaced in this position
by Michelle Jones.
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