Our ocean is changing—and the marine animals that live in it are feeling the effects. Join Ashley Stokes and Lauren McDowell from the Seacoast Science Center to explore what they've learned from over a decade of marine mammal rescue work. Through case studies, recent trends, and real-world examples, they'll share how shifting ocean temperatures, changing migration patterns, and declining winter ice are affecting gray seals, harbor seals, and other marine mammals in our region. Discover what these patterns tell us about the health of our local waters and what we can do to help.

Ashley Stokes is the Senior Director of Science and Administration at Seacoast Science Center. She founded and started the Marine Mammal Rescue Program in 2014 and has responded to over 1,500 seals, dolphins, porpoises, and whales and has been with the Science Center for over 20 years. She also has a degree in Marine Biology from the University of Rhode Island. 

Lauren McDowell is the Marine Mammal Rescue Manager for the Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue Team. She is a recent graduate at the University of New Hampshire with her degree in Marine Biology.