All Marine Mammals are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act & the Marine Mammal Protection Act. ONLY authorized wildlife rehabilitators—like the agencies on this list—are allowed to touch, catch or move them.

Report Stranded Whales

Please call one of the international agencies listed BELOW to report a stranding, including sea otters and sea turtles. The information provided is to garner assistance for stranded marine animals. No warranties are made regarding the response time of the organizations and the agencies provided.

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Guidelines for Witnessing and Reporting Marine Animal Strandings

Seven Steps to Help a Stranded Marine Mammal

  1. Do not touch, pick up, or feed the animal.  Do not return the animal to water.
  2. Observe the animal from a distance of at least 50 feet.  Keep people and dogs away.
  3. Note physical characteristics such as size, presence of external ears and fur color.
  4. Note the animal’s condition.  Is it weak or skinny?  Does it have any open wounds?
  5. Look for any obvious identification tags or markings.
  6. Determine the animal’s exact location for accurate reporting.
  7. Call the local stranding hotline with as much information as you have.

When reporting a stranding, it is important to have the following information ready to report:

  1. Identification or description of animal (size, color, etc.)
  2. Number of animals involved
  3. Condition of animal (alive, dead, or injured)
  4. Exact location and directions to the strand site
  5. Names and telephone numbers of people involved
  6. Date and time of your observations
  7. If there are any tags on the animal

What to do for a stranded Seal or Sea Lion:

  1. DO NOT attempt to remove the animal or return it to the water. Seals and Sea Lions temporarily haul out on land to rest or dry out. Mothers briefly leave their pups while at sea.
  2. Observe the animal from a distance of at least 50 feet. Note the condition of the animal. Any obvious injuries? Is it bleeding? Wet or dry? Any markings or tags? Do not attempt to feed the animal.
  3. Do not pour water on beached Seals or Sea Lions. They are prone to respiratory diseases and wetting them down often adds to their suffering.
  4. Do not touch a stranded Seal or Sea Lion! Even though they appear friendly, they can inflict severe bites.  They may also carry diseases communicable to humans.
  5. Control your pets.  Keep people away! They could injure or be injured by a Seal or Sea Lion.
  6. Determine the animal’s exact location! If we can’t locate the animal, we can’t help it. How far and in what direction from a town, river, jetty, seawall, mile marker or highway callbox

What to do for a stranded Sea Turtle:

  1. Move the turtle above the high water line.
  2. Cover the animal with dry seaweed to prevent the wind from causing hypothermia.
  3. Mark the covered turtle with a gaudy piece of flotsam or jetsam, perhaps a buoy or anything unusual, so that rescuers will easily find the animal.
  4. Do not put it back into the water – doing so will condemn the animal to almost certain death.
  5. Do not remove the animal from the beach – a special license is required to transport federally protected species.

What to do for a stranded Sea Otter:

  1. Don’t touch it or try to catch it – it’s illegal, and sea otters can bite.
  2. Don’t pick up an otter pup that seems to be alone in the water – its mother is probably diving for food nearby.
  3. Keep people and pets away from the otter.
  4. Don’t wrap a stranded otter in a blanket – it will overheat very quickly.
  5. Wildlife rehabilitation specialists will come and determine whether the otter needs help.  If it does, they will capture it and take it in for care.
  6. Remember, sea otters are wild animals and can deliver a severe bite!

All Marine Mammals are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act & the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Only authorized wildlife rehabilitators—like the agencies on this list—are allowed to catch or move them.

Agencies Allowed to Capture Marine Mammals:

  • USA
  • SEA OTTER STRANDING IN CALIFORNIA
  • INTERNATIONAL