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Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal

Reporting a sick, injured, entangled, stranded, or dead animal is the best way to make sure professional responders and scientists know about it and can take appropriate action. Numerous organizations around the country are trained and ready to respond. If you see a sick, injured, stranded, or dead marine mammal or sea turtle, immediately contact your local stranding network (phone numbers provided below).

You can also use our Dolphin and Whale 911 app to report a stranded marine mammal. The app is available for Apple devices.

The public should report all sightings of stranded animals to the appropriate contact number for your location (select your region below). If you see a stranded marine mammal or sea turtle, keep people and pets back a safe distance of at least 50 yards (150 feet).

Contact Information

Alaska

Reporting Key
Dolphins/Whales Icon Dolphins/Whales
Sea Turtle Icon Sea Turtles
Seal Icon Seals/Sea Lions
Fish Icon Fish

Statewide Contacts

NOAA Fisheries Alaska Statewide 24-Hour Stranding Hotline

*For injured/stranded whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and dolphins
Phone: (877) 925-7773 or (877) 9-AKR-PRD
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Alaska SeaLife Center 24-Hour Stranding Hotline

Seward, AK
*Includes injured/stranded walruses, sea otters, and polar bears
Phone: (888) 774-7325
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Marine Mammals Management Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Anchorage, AK
*Includes injured/stranded walruses, sea otters, and polar bears
Phone: (800) 362-5148 (business hours only)
Seal Icon

Reporting Death/Injury of a Marine Mammal During Commercial Fishing Operations

Phone: (907) 586-7240 (business hours only)
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Alaska Partners

Alaska Consortium of Zooarchaeologists

Anchorage, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Juneau, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Alaska SeaLife Center

Seward, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Alaska State Parks

Juneau, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Alaska State Parks

Kodiak, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services

Eagle River, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Alaska Whale Foundation

Petersburg, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Aleut Community of St. Paul

St. Paul, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Rachel Berngartt, DVM

Juneau, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Chichagof Conservation Council

Tenakee, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Glacier Bay National Park

Gustavus, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

North Slope Borough

Utqiagvik, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Petersburg Marine Mammal Center

Petersburg, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Sitka Sound Science Center

Sitka, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Togiak National Wildlife Refuge

Togiak, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Museum of the North

Fairbanks, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Marine Advisory Program, NW Alaska

Nome, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau

Juneau, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

University of Alaska, Sitka

Sitka, AK
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

U.S. Forest Service

Yakutat, AK
Seal Icon

Last updated on April 30, 2024

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Reporting Key
Dolphins/Whales Icon Dolphins/Whales
Sea Turtle Icon Sea Turtles
Seal Icon Seals/Sea Lions
Fish Icon Fish

Regional

Northeast Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Hotline

Phone: (866) 755-NOAA (866-755-6622)
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Connecticut/Rhode Island

Mystic Aquarium

Area covered: Connecticut, RI and Fishers Island, NY
Phone: (860) 572-5955 x 107
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Delaware

MERR Institute, Inc.

Area covered: Delaware
Phone: (302) 228-5029
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Maine

Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline

Phone: (800) 532-9551
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic

Area covered: From the Canadian border to Rockland, ME
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Marine Mammals of Maine

Area covered: Rockland through Kittery, ME
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Maryland

Maryland State Hotline

Phone: (800) 628-9944
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory

Area covered: Maryland
Dead animals only
Phone: (800) 628-9944
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

National Aquarium in Baltimore, Marine Animal Rescue Program

Live animals only
Phone: (410) 576-3880
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Massachusetts

Seacoast Science Center

Area covered: NH through Essex, MA
Phone: (603) 997-9448
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Phone: (508) 349-2615 x 6104
Sea Turtle Icon

New England Aquarium

Area covered: MA and NH
Phone: (617) 973-5247
Sea Turtle Icon

International Fund for Animal Welfare

Area covered: Cape Cod and southeastern MA
Phone: (508) 743-9548
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Center for Coastal Studies

Entangled animals in the marine environment only
Phone: (800) 900-3622
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket

Area covered: Nantucket, MA
Phone: (833) 667-6626
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC)

Area covered: North Weymouth through Plymouth, MA
Phone: (617) 688-6872
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah

Area covered: Martha's Vineyard, MA
Phone: (866) 755-6622
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

New Hampshire

Seacoast Science Center

Area covered: NH and MA
Phone: (603) 997-9448
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

New Jersey

Marine Mammal Stranding Center

Phone: (609) 266-0538
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

New York

New York Stranding Hotline

Phone: (631) 369-9829
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

Large whales and dead marine mammals
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

New York Marine Rescue Center

Live pinnipeds and small cetaceans
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Virginia

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center

Phone: (757) 385-7575
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Last updated on April 30, 2024

Pacific Islands

Reporting Key
Dolphins/Whales Icon Dolphins/Whales
Sea Turtle Icon Sea Turtles
Seal Icon Seals/Sea Lions
Fish Icon Fish

Hawai'i

Hawaiʻi Statewide Marine Animal Stranding, Entanglement, and Reporting Hotline

Includes stranded/injured sea turtles, monk seals, dolphins, and whales
Phone: (888) 256-9840
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Hawai'i DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) Hotline

DLNRTip app for iPhone or Android mobile devices: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/docare/
Phone: (808) 643-DLNR (808-643-3567)
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Hotline

Immediately call/report possible illegal or suspicious activity.
Written reports, video, and photos may be emailed.
Phone: (800) 853-1964
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

For Non-Emergencies - Monk Seal Photos and Written Reports

Seal Icon

Guam

NOAA Office of Law Enforcement

Agana, GU
Phone: (671) 472-7200
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

Conservation Office Hotline

Phone: (671) 688-DAWR (671-688-3297)
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Resources Administrative Office

Mangilao, GU
*Please contact during regular business hours
Phone: (671) 735-0281 or (671) 735-0294
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife Hotline

Saipan, MP
Phone: (670) CTRTLES (670-287-8537)
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

NOAA CNMI Field Office

Phone: (670) 285-2287
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

American Samoa

American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources

Pago Pago, AS
Phone: (684) 633-4456 or (684) 252-0445
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

Last updated on April 30, 2024

Southeast

Reporting Key
Dolphins/Whales Icon Dolphins/Whales
Sea Turtle Icon Sea Turtles
Seal Icon Seals/Sea Lions
Fish Icon Fish

Regional

NOAA Fisheries Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline

Phone: (877) WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343)
Marine Mammals Icon Seal Icon

NOAA Fisheries Southeast Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Hotline

State-specific hotline numbers listed below.
Phone: (844) SEA-TRTL (844-732-8785)
Sea Turtle Icon

Smalltooth Sawfish Encounter Hotline

Phone: (844) 4SAWFISH or (844) 472-9347
Fish Icon

Sturgeon Salvage Network

Phone: (844) STURG-911 or (844) 788-7491
Fish Icon

Giant Manta Ray Reporting

Phone: (727) 824-5312
Fish Icon

Alabama

Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline

Phone: (877) WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343)
Marine Mammals Icon

Alabama Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Hotline

Phone: (866) SEA-TURTLE (866-732-8878)
Sea Turtle Icon

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Dauphin Island, AL
Marine Mammals Icon

Florida

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Wildlife Alert Hotline
Phone: (888) 404-FWCC (888-404-3922)
Marine Mammals Icon

Florida Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Phone: (888) 404-FWCC (888-404-3922)
Sea Turtle Icon

Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserve Office

Eastpoint, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Clearwater, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Dolphin Conservation Field Station at Marineland

St. Augustine, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Inc.

Destin, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Florida Aquarium

Tampa, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Florida Marine Mammal Stranding Network—Southwest Region

Port Charlotte, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

FWC FWRI Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory

St. Petersburg, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

FWC Northeast Field Laboratory

Jacksonville, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

FWC Tallahassee

Tallahassee, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Gulf Breeze, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Gulf World Marine Park

Panama City, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute—Florida Atlantic University

Fort Pierce, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute

Orlando, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Marine Animal Rescue Society

Miami, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Dolphins Plus Oceanside Marine Mammal Responders

Key Largo, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Mote Marine Laboratory

Sarasota, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami Laboratory

Miami, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves Office, Florida DEP

Milton, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Volusia County

DeLand, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

University of Florida/Cedar Key Northwest Florida Marine Mammal Stranding Program

Gainesville, FL
Marine Mammals Icon

Georgia

Georgia Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline

Phone: (912) 269-7587
Marine Mammals Icon

Georgia Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Phone: (912) 280-6892
Sea Turtle Icon

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Brunswick, GA
Marine Mammals Icon

Louisiana

Louisiana Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline

Phone: (504) 235-3005
Marine Mammals Icon

Louisiana Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Phone: (844) SEA-TRTL
Sea Turtle Icon

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

New Orleans, LA
Marine Mammals Icon

Mississippi

Mississippi Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Phone: 844-SEA-TRTL (844-732-8785)
Sea Turtle Icon

Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and Stranding Hotline

Gulfport, MS
Phone: (888) SOS-Dolphin (888-767-3657)
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Ocean Springs, MS
Marine Mammals Icon

NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Pascagoula Laboratory

Pascagoula, MS
Marine Mammals Icon

North Carolina

North Carolina Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Hotline

Phone: (252) 241-7367
Sea Turtle Icon

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

Morehead City, NC
Phone: (252) 241-5119
Marine Mammals Icon

University of North Carolina–Wilmington Marine Mammal Stranding Program

Wilmington, NC
Phone: 910-515-7354
Marine Mammals Icon

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Manteo, NC
Marine Mammals Icon

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Fort Fisher, NC
Marine Mammals Icon

North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine

Morehead City, NC
Marine Mammals Icon

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education

Corolla, NC
Marine Mammals Icon

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline

Phone: (787) 538-4684 or (787) 645-5595
Marine Mammals Icon

Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

Santurce, PR
Marine Mammals Icon

South Carolina

South Carolina Stranding Hotline

Phone: (800) 922-5431
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

Coastal Carolina University

Conway, SC
Marine Mammals Icon

National Ocean Service Charleston Laboratory

Charleston, SC
Marine Mammals Icon

Texas

Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Hotline

Galveston, TX
Phone: (800) 9MAMMAL (800-962-6625)
Marine Mammals Icon

Texas Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network

Phone: (866) TURTLE5 (866-887-8535)
Sea Turtle Icon

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Austwell, TX
Marine Mammals Icon

Texas State Aquarium

Corpus Christi, TX
Marine Mammals Icon

SeaWorld San Antonio

San Antonio, TX
Marine Mammals Icon

U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. Virgin Islands Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline - Virgin Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife

Frederiksted, VI
Phone: (340) 713-2422
Marine Mammals Icon

Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue (STAR)

Christiansted, VI
Phone: (340) 690-0474
Sea Turtle Icon

Last updated on October 15, 2024

West Coast

Reporting Key
Dolphins/Whales Icon Dolphins/Whales
Sea Turtle Icon Sea Turtles
Seal Icon Seals/Sea Lions
Fish Icon Fish

Regional

West Coast Region Stranding Hotline

Phone: (866) 767-6114
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

California - Live Animal Response

Northcoast Marine Mammal Center

Counties served: Del Norte and Humboldt
Phone: (707) 951-4722
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

The Marine Mammal Center

Counties served: Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo
Phone: (415) 289-7350
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute

Counties served: Santa Barbara and Ventura
Phone: (805) 637-0805
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

California Wildlife Center

Counties served: Los Angeles – City of Malibu only
Phone: (310) 924-7256
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles

Counties served: Los Angeles
Phone: (800) 399-4253
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Counties served: Orange
Phone: (949) 494-3050
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

SeaWorld of California

Counties served: San Diego
Phone: (800) 541-7325
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

California - Dead Animal Response

California Polytechnic State University-Humboldt

Counties served: Del Norte, Humboldt, and Northern Mendocino
Phone: (707) 826-3650
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

California Academy of Sciences

Counties served: Southern Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Solano, Contra Costa, Sutter, San Joaquin, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San Mateo
Phone: (415) 379-5381
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Long Marine Laboratory

Counties served: Santa Cruz
Phone: (831) 212-1272
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Moss Landing Marine Laboratory

Counties served: Monterey
Phone: (831) 771-4422
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute

Counties served: Santa Barbara and Ventura
Phone: (805) 567-1505
Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit

Counties served: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura
Phone: (805) 500-6220
Marine Mammals Icon

NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Counties served: San Diego
Phone: (858) 546-7162
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon

Oregon

Portland State University/Seaside Aquarium

Areas served: all counties north of the City of Tillamook
Phone: (503) 738-6211
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute

Areas served: all counties south of the City of Tillamook
Phone: (541) 270-6830
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Washington

Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network

Areas served: Whatcom County
Phone: (360) 966-8845
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network

Areas served: San Juan Islands
Phone: (800) 562-8832
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network

Area served: Whidbey and Camano Islands, Skagit County, and North Snohomish County
Phone: (866) ORCANET
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Sno-King Marine Mammal Response

Areas served: Seattle to Kayak Point
Phone: (206) 695-2277
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network

Areas served: West Seattle
Phone: (206) 905-7325
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

MaST Center Stranding Team

Areas served: Fauntleroy Ferry south to Dash Point
Phone: (206) 724-2687
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Washington Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Areas served: Pierce County, Kitsap County, and Grays Harbor and part of norther Pacific County (for pinnipeds)
Phone: (253) 208-2427
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Cascadia Research Collective

Areas served: Thurston County, western shoreline of the Hood Canal to Brinnon, and the outer coast of Washington (cetaceans)
Phone: (360) 791-9555
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Port Townsend Marine Science Center

Areas served: Eastern Jefferson County and part of eastern Clallam County. Port Townsend east to the Hood Canal Bridge, south to Brinnon and west to Sequim Bay also including the Miller Peninsula
Phone: (360) 385-5582 x 103
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Feiro Marine Life Center

Areas served: East of Port Angeles to Makah Reservation Line
Phone: (360) 417-6254
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

World Vets

Areas served: Vashon and Maury Islands and emergency support for West Seattle for live and dead animal response
Provides 24 hour or less care for small pinnipeds in Washington State and can perform health assessments, stranding response and vessel support, euthanasia, necropsy, live animal stabilization, and transport services as requested
Phone: (253) 777-1775
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Makah Tribe

Areas served: Makah Territory (Neah Bay, WA)
Phone: (360) 640-0569
Marine Mammals Icon Sea Turtle Icon Seal Icon

Last updated on October 30, 2024