The Interview

Nick Matousch interviews Robert C. Schoelkopf, Founding Director of Marine Mammal Stranding Center

FROM beaches to bays, South Jersey is an expansive habitat for many aquatic creatures who call this region home. When those marine mammals are in danger, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine is the organization to get the call. Robert Schoelkopf, co-founder of MMSC, has spent his life rescuing animals and lives his life mission keeping marine mammals safe.

How did you establish the Marine Mammal Stranding Center?

When I was a dolphin trainer on a pier, we started getting calls of animals on the beach. I hated seeing the animals [at the pier] never being outside, so I quit doing the shows and started the center.

What is your day-to-day like?

There is no day to day. We are on call, 24/7, and never know what we have coming in. We never know when we are going to get a call. Anywhere there is salt water we go there.

How does a marine mammal rescue call happen? What steps do you and your crews take?

If we get a call, it is usually from beach lifeguards or people calling up. They may take pictures or call us. We will carry the animal in a net – that I invented – and put it in our F550 truck with a tank and take it to the center in Brigantine. We have holding tanks for seals and dolphins to feed in and heal in, because they feed in water and not on land. We have a veterinarian on call.

How did you come up with the net you use?

Before I had a staff, I worked by myself, so I had to adapt to carrying the animal on my own. It is a very fine nylon mesh net, and easy on the animal.

Do you rescue every animal you go on call for?

The animal has to be grounded on beach and bay so we can get to it with nets and carriers. If the animals are healthy we are not allowed to pick them up. Sometimes we have to simply keep people from harassing it. Our job is also if they died, to see how they died.

How frequently do you have animals in your center in Brigantine?

It may take up to two months, but some animals we can release in 24 hours.

What animals are currently at your center?

We have two adult harp seals from the Arctic Circle. There is only one in the U.S. in captivity, that is how rare they are.

What should the public know about marine wildlife that they may come across?

That there is nothing wrong with the animals. They are not injured just because they are on the beach. People call not understanding that the animals belong on the beaches. They also are wild animals, not display animals. They do bite, they carry diseases, can cause injury, and it is not advisable to get within 150 feet of them.

What are some of the exciting parts of your job?

Not having to wear a suit and tie. It is a casual kind of thing. Also the dedicated people that have been with the Center. They have been with us for a lot of years.

What are some setbacks you've experienced?

The fact that we are a non profit and not funded by the federal government or the state of New Jersey. Now donations are not going through.

What is a necessary trait for you to have with your job?

The love of animals. It does not take a rocket scientist, you just have to have passion and caring and respect for those animals.

A Harbor Seal on the beach. Previous page: Bob

Schoelkopf and Sheila Dean, founders of the MMSC, a rescued animal waits to go home. Photos provided by MMSC.

Describe one particularly memorable call.

We had a sperm whale in Ocean City on 9th Street. We went down to guide the animal out of the area, but it died. We were able to tow it to the Longport Bridge, where it is buried underneath the sand. We have the jawbone and the flipper at the center today.

What was the last gift you gave someone?

I make beef jerky or a big pot of chili and bring it in for the staff. It is a gift because you take your time to make it and give it to someone.

What did you want to be growing up? Did you always have an affinity with animals?

When I was in high school I wanted to be a conservation officer. I had worked with conservationists in Pennsylvania. I spent time working with fishing services as a conservation officer with New Jersey Fish, Game, and worked with the United States Fish and Wildlife services. with reef sharks in the Caribbean, jumped out of helicopters and planes, had a rocket dropped on me in Vietnam… to survive something as little as a virus is impressive to me.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would play

you? Frank Sinatra, because if you remember his song “My Way,” that is me.

What is some advice you'd give to your younger self?

Do not think about what you are going to do or the money you are going to spend doing it. When I joined the Navy I was told do not volunteer for things. I volunteered for all the schooling, and I would do it all over again.

What do you do in your free time?

My wife and I are in process of getting the summer garden going with tomatoes and herbs.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center relies on donations to operate. Due to the global crisis, they were unable to hold scheduled fundraisers. Please consider helping them with a donation by clicking here.