Author | Lightnews

Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · 3d

Schuster wanted to show you his new #Halloween toy that was donated from our Enrichment Wishlist! 🎃

Thank you for the donation!

Interested in donating an enrichment item and creating specialized experiences? Learn more via the link in our bio.

Schuster, one of our male resident otter, is on his back holding a small toy. This toy was donated from our enrichment wish list and is perfect for Halloween approaching as the toy is a bight pumpkin!

Schuster, one of our male resident otters, is holding a donated pumpkin toy up to his nose to investigate.

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · 5d

Some say they’re real, others aren’t so sure. Only you can decide for yourself.

Someone has to keep the pumps running, but the elusive nature and unconfirmed sightings of the Life Support Staff have led to their classification as Cryptids of the Aquarium.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omhb...

Life Support Staff: Cryptids of the Aquarium

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Oregon Coast Aquarium

Robert E. (He/him) @robertemond.bsky.social · 26d

Today is World Octopus Day. So here is a collection of octopuses I’ve photographed at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

#Photography 📸
#WestCoastKin #Nature
#PhotographersOfBluesky
#BlueskyPhotography
#ocean #sealife #octopus
#PNW #Oregon #Newport
@gailcarriger.bsky.social
@orcoastaquarium.bsky.social

A collage of octopuses at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. A giant blue octopus made of plastic recovered from the ocean off the coast of Oregon. A picture of an octopus’s tentacles spread on the glass of the aquarium. An octopus’s face dark colored with a pebble like texture to camouflage itself with the cave wall behind it. Photos by Robert Emond.

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · 27d

Educators, join us for our (free!) Educator Open House! Taking place on Saturday, November 8, this is your chance to get more information about planning field trips, collaboration opportunities, and classroom visits and workshops!

Learn more and sign up at aquarium.org/education/teacher-resources

An educator leans over a table to get a closer look at a fish in an acrylic tub; the fish is a brown sculpin, its suction-cup like stomach anchoring it in place against the tub's wall. Trays with educational flyers and biofacts can be seen on the table. The educator has long brown hair and is wearing a blue sleeveless shirt, with an expression of interest on their face.

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Sep 25

#ThingsWeOverhear : Octopus Edition.

Octopuses are masters of disguise, and we totally understand the confusion. We're here every step of the way to help you identify these slippery cephalopods!

youtube.com/shorts/5ossZdCD-vY

ThingsWeOverhear : Octopus Edition.

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

www.youtube.com

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Sep 24

👏 We love to hear it! Thank you!

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Sep 24

By bringing the puffin plate to Oregon’s DMV, you’re helping establish an ongoing form of support for wildlife rehab and animal care at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Preorder yours today and get an exclusive puffin plate sticker!
🌊 aquarium.org/puffin-plate 🌊

youtu.be/-_UIcjIu6DM

Puffin License Plates - Get Yours!

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

youtu.be

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Reposted by Oregon Coast Aquarium

Elakha Alliance @elakhaalliance.bsky.social · Sep 19

🦦 Bringing #seaotters back to #Oregon isn’t as simple as opening the floodgates - it takes years of careful planning, science, and a whole lot of teamwork.

Tune into this webinar on 9/22 to learn more! @oregonzoo.bsky.social @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social

🔗 www.elakhaalliance.org/event/soaw-w...

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Sep 19

Visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium's newest temporary exhibit, featuring larger-than-life sculptures inspired by marine creatures and the threats they face.

Explore Washed Ashore: youtu.be/fu3504Zb4Hc 🌊

Washed Ashore at the Oregon Coast Aquarium

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

youtu.be

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Sep 16

We would love for everyone to experience the wonder of the Oregon Coast Aquarium--but for those who can't make the journey to Newport, we offer outreach programs to bring the wonder directly to you.

Read the full story at aquarium.org/ocaq-outreach-programs

Community Engagement Specialist Kathleen teaches in front of a blue felt board covered in images of marine animals. She is wearing green pants, a blue sweater, and black rimmed glasses. She has long brown hair. She is smiling as she talks. She is holding up a card with text that describes animal feeding habits. A student can be seen in the foreground, facing Kathleen, wearing a turquoise t-shirt, her brown hair up in a bun.

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Sep 2

A special thanks to Brooke Davis for sharing this photo with us! We love it when the OCAq experience spans generations. 💙

📷: "Jamie and his great grandmother, Meema. He was born exactly 91 years after her on her birthday. They had the most magical time in the tunnel together."

Location: Orford Reef tunnel at Oregon Coast Aquarium. An elderly woman in a mobility chair smiles widely at her grandson who sits opposite her in a stroller. He smiles back. Pure joy is evident in their expressions. Both are posed face-to-face in front of an underwater tunnel teaming with rockfish and anemones.

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Aug 14

🪪Tufted Puffin
📍Seabird Aviary

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Aug 1

Thanks KK!

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Aug 1

She's just a baby! Meet Pipsqueak, our not-so-giant Pacific octopus.

youtube.com/shorts/ppIraS8EI3g?si=iOiB1Lr30TAcLFty

Meet Pipsqueak, the not-so-giant Pacific Octopus

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

youtube.com

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jul 31

The best way to beat the summer heat? Seafood-filled icy treats.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwFz...

Otter Love Summer - Sea Otter Ice Treat Enrichment

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

www.youtube.com

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jul 18

We Spared No Expense

Video by Aviculturist Marie 🪶
www.youtube.com/shorts/eNPbm...

We Spared No Expense

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

www.youtube.com

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jul 18

Our divers do so much! They do indeed vacuum and scrub 💩, but they also go out and conduct field dives, biodiversity surveys, octopus releases, and more!

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jul 18

How do you check up on a 175lb fish? It takes plenty of planning, a team of professionals, and some heavy-duty equipment.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vmP...

Checking Up on Thor the White Sturgeon

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

www.youtube.com

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jul 11

Little critters make a big difference! Grass isopods cling to the eelgrass and feed on little things in the water—in turn, they serve as prey, transferring nutrients up through the food web.

#Isopods #TinybutMighty #OregonCoastAquarium

A brown grass isopod swims in center frame; it has a segmented body and a small pair of antennae. Eelgrass can be seen in the background.

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jul 1

Keep your friends close and your anemones closer.

A green sea anemone sits in frame with a rockfish peering out from behind its right side. The rockfish is a China rockfish, with a dark base color and yellow speckles and bars on its face and head.

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jun 14

Happy #NationalSkunkDay! Tune in for a special skunk Q&A and enrichment session!

Striped skunk brothers Jackson and Palmer are part of our ambassador animal program. They work alongside our educators to teach the public about their wild counterparts. ❤️🦨

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML_e...

National Skunk Day Q&A + Enrichment

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Oregon Coast Aquarium

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium @ptdefiancezoo.bsky.social · Jun 4

Happy birthday, Skinny! 🦭🎂
Our keepers and marine mammals are wishing this fabulous harbor seal a very happy birthday!

Skinny isn't just aging gracefully, she's making history! 🎉 At 50 years old, Skinny is the oldest known harbor seal in the world at @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jun 6

June 3 marked Skinny’s 50th birthday celebration at the #OregonCoastAquarium! Festivities included frozen treats, a pinniped painting session, and fun with fish-filled feeder balls.

A special thanks to Skinny's birthday sponsors--we appreciate you!

youtu.be/S823xMMG2Ww?...

Skinny's 50th Birthday Celebration

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

youtu.be

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · Jun 3

We're honored to celebrate Skinny's 50th birthday!

In nature, harbor seals can live into their twenties, while those in human care can live into their thirties—the fact that Skinny is 50 years old is absolutely amazing. Huge thanks to everyone celebrating with us today!

Skinny the harbor seal lies next to her caretaker, who is holding her hand up to Skinny's nose. Skinny is a sleek silvery gray color. Her caretaker is wearing black clothes, purple gloves, and a bright green birthday party hat.

The mammal care team lines up to take a celebratory photo, all wearing birthday party hats. There are eight individuals. In the center a mammalogist holds up a sign saying "happy birthday." Some individuals are holding noise makers and colorful pinwheels.

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Oregon Coast Aquarium @orcoastaquarium.bsky.social · May 31

However you want to say it, the bottom line is that Skinny is one long-lived seal! At 50 years old, Skinny is double the average Pacific harbor seal lifespan.

youtube.com/watch?v=QGnkcpaa8EY

🌊aquarium.org/half-century-seal

Describe Skinny Using 1 Word Pt. 2

YouTube video by Oregon Coast Aquarium

www.youtube.com

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