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Q: What is a First
          Responder? 
A: Just as it sounds - they are the first to respond to
          any reports of stranded marine animals, dead or alive. Our First
          Responders are located throughout our coverage area (which spans over
          1,000 miles between CT, RI and Fisher's Island, NY) and are able to
          get to beaches faster than our teams here at the Aquarium. 
 
Q: How do First Responders
          help the Animal Rescue Team? 
A: They actually help the animals more than the team. Being
          the first line of response, they help to speed up the response time
          after a report has been called in to the hotline. First Responders
          are the catalyst to ensuring a stranded animal receives the proper
          attention in the most timely fashion. 
 
Q: How does the work done at
          Animal Rescue Clinic make a difference? 
A: What we're doing at the Animal
          Rescue Clinic is what we do best at Mystic Aquarium, and that's
          helping animals in need. We have the resources to make a difference
          in the lives of each marine animal that comes to us injured or ill
          and we always do whatever we can to help conserve natural
          populations. 
 
Q: What is most rewarding
          about working with the Animal Rescue Team? 
A: For me, it's working during harbor seal pup season.
          These pups come to us when they're 1 to 2 days old because mom has
          abandoned them for whatever reason. Caring for an animal that
          otherwise couldn't fend for itself is the ultimate responsibility.
          But when release day comes, and you're watching a once helpless
          animal return to it's natural environment, that is the greatest
          reward. 
 
Q: How
          can I become a First Responder for my area? 
A: Take our First Responder Training course! Just click
          the button above to find a training course near you. |