1 of 14

Thank you for your interest in helping our seals! This presentation will give you background on the situation and teach you how you can help!(press the left mouse button or key

to advance to the next slide)

Save our Seals Coalition Save our Seals Coalition invites you to view our:invites you to view our:

Rake-a-Line Orientation presentationRake-a-Line Orientation presentation

2 of 14

Casa Beach in La Jolla (a.k.a. Children’s Pool) is home to a local population of about 200 seals who use the beach to give birth, rest, and molt. Until September of 2004, the City had a rope barrier protecting the seals from people.

The rope barrier encouraged people to view the seals from a safe distance

3 of 14

Since the rope barrier was taken down, the seals have endured constant harassment from unsuspecting visitors as well as poor intentioned people who deliberately disturb the seals.

4 of 14

In January 2005, a group of volunteers started the Rake a Line program. Volunteers rake a line in the sand where the rope barrier once was in order to mark the appropriate distance from the seals. When visitors stay behind our raked line, the seals feel that it is safe to come out of the water….

…100+ seals can be found on the beach on a quiet morning

5 of 14

So how can you help these adorable creatures?

Sign up for a shift on the beach:

Email your availability to Donna at donnacalvao@yahoo.com

6 of 14

During your shift, Rake a Line & hold the sign so visitors can read it from above(the raked line should reinforce the Federal sign which asks people to

“Please observe the seals from a safe distance”)

Call the number on the federal sign to report when someone deliberately frightens (“flushes”) the seals into the water (800-853-1964)

7 of 14

Smile. Most of the tourists don’t know that there are seals waiting to come out of the water. Be cheerful and friendly and they will respond positively to you (and for the few who don’t respond positively, you aren’t going to change their minds by getting into a verbal debate (especially if it leads to raised voices) … that will only make onlookers think that the volunteers are nuts!)

It is perfectly legal for visitors to cross the raked line…it is NOT legal for us to tell them otherwise. We CAN suggest or recommend that they stay behind the raked line if they would like to see the seals.

8 of 14

9 of 14

The volunteers get a GREAT view of the seals coming The volunteers get a GREAT view of the seals coming out of the water at sunset out of the water at sunset (picture taken from volunteer chair)(picture taken from volunteer chair)

10 of 14

Are those BOOKS in the volunteers’ hands? Can they see in the dark?

Actually, the beach is very well lit by the floodlights on the lifeguard tower, so you will not need to worry about sitting in the dark at night (Bring a book)

LIGHTS!!

11 of 14

AM volunteers do not sit on the beach. The seals are easily frightened in the early morning hours by movementmovement andand noisenoise, so Volunteers stay up on the wall to avoid frightening the seals. (ssshhh!)

Do NOT block access to the stairs (you could get a ticket) Do NOT leave your sign unattended (it may be stolen) either turn it face down when you need to leave to use the restroom, or take the sign with you

RestroomsRestrooms

Proper placement of sign (not blocking access)

Volunteer stands or sits here

12 of 14

Volunteer materials:Volunteer materials:

•BackpackBackpack (contains fliers and information about seals)

•ChairChair (green folding chair)

•UmbrellaUmbrella (protects from sun/rain)

•SignsSigns

•Wooden RakeWooden Rake (It is missing its prongs, but it doesn’t need them…the wooden end is great for pushing the sand back and forth to create a raked “ditch” instead of just a raked line. Angelina is our star ditch digger…she rakes the best line I’ve seen!! It is very easy to see from the wall...and what a WORKOUT she gets from rakin’ that LINE!!

**if you cover the first or **if you cover the first or last shift, you will need to last shift, you will need to

pick up the materials. pick up the materials. Donna or Sarah can email Donna or Sarah can email you the directions to the you the directions to the

storage locationstorage location

This rake is perfect for the sand…the metal rakes just don’t work as well

12 of 14

13 of 14

Send an email to Donna at Donnacalvao@yahoo.com if you would like to volunteer

OR

If you would like to help, you can:

Make a tax deductible donation to the Seal Security Fund to help protect the seals:

SDAAc/o Seal Security Fund4639 30th Street, Suite ASan Diego, CA 92116-3207

14 of 14

And one last thing…

Thank you! Thank you!