Report

To report a marine mammal sighting or stranding, or to volunteer for a stranding center in your area, contact the proper number below. The organizations listed below are members of the Northeast Stranding Network.

Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Maine:
New England Aquarium (617) 973-5247

Connecticut and Rhode Island:
Mystic Marinelife Aquarium (860) 572-5955

New York:
Riverhead Foundation (631) 369-9829

New Jersey:
Marine Mammal Stranding Center (609) 266-0538

Delaware:
Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Inst.(302) 228-5029

Washington, DC:
Smithsonian Institute (202) 357-1923

Virginia:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (866) 493-1085
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center (757) 437-6159

Stranding Information

Stranding and Rescue:
The term “stranding” is used for marine mammals (seals, dolphins, whales) and sea turtles that are found on the beach either dead or alive. Injury or death in seals can be attributed to: shark bites, parasites, respiratory ailments, or human inflicted causes such as net entanglement, vessel strike, toxic pollution and ingestion of plastics. While the sight of a helpless animal wounded or dying on the beach can be touchingly painful, and provoke feelings of frustration or “the need to help,” please be aware that in the United States it is illegal for anyone without a scientific permit to handle a marine mammal. All animals, injured or stressed, can be dangerous. Although seals appear to be harmless, they have sharp teeth and claws and can inflict a very nasty bite. They often carry viruses that can be transmitted to humans. To avoid serious injury or possible infection, stay clear of any stranded animal.

Rehabilitation:
Through the dedication and team efforts of the Stranding Center’s staff, every attempt is made to rehabilitate and release these animals back into the sea. Director, Robert Schoelkopf states, “ The Stranding Center’s goal is to provide continual and improved rehabilitation services for these animals. Our aspirations of accomplishment are gauged on the number of animals we can successfully rehabilitate and return to the wild. We currently have an 88.9% release rate.” Co-director, Sheila Dean, explaining the step-by-step procedure of the rehabilitation process says,  “Once the animal is secured at the Center, the staff assesses and treats initial dehydration, along with any sustained injuries. They are cleaned, hydrated, and left overnight to rest undisturbed. Blood from the animal is then drawn by our veterinarian and sent to a lab for analysis. Once the results are back, medication is prescribed and then administered by the staff. The animals, cleaned diligently by staff and volunteers, are fed several small meals a day of fresh, food-grade fish and vitamins. Once cleaned and fed, the animals are left alone and monitored via cameras set up over their pens. We strictly enforce the rule that no one will attempt to domesticate the animals in any way. This helps ensure that the animals will return to the wild and not look to humans for food or companionship.”

Release:
Wheelock College in Boston, MA provides the Center with a sophisticated battery-pack satellite tag, a tracking device that is attached to one seal each year. The satellite tag does not hurt the animal and the entire device will fall off when the seal molts.  Since the seal will go back to the area where it was born, this program is beneficial in learning where the seal originally came from. Apart from the satellite tracking, the Center’s technicians flipper-tag all seals before they are released back into the wild. The tag, attached to a hind flipper, has a number that has been given to that individual seal. Tagging is part of a program to keep track of the seals that are released and gives the Center pertinent feedback information on the fate of that particular seal. Occasionally, when a seal is stranded in late spring and the rehabilitation process spreads into warmer weather, the Center must release the seal farther north where the water is colder. For the most part, they are released into the back-bay areas around Brigantine, and as a result, over the past twenty-five years, the seal colony population here has been favorably increased.

What to do if you encounter a stranded Seal:
* Immediately call the Marine Mammal Stranding Center: (609) 266-0538, the local coast guard, or the police.

* Never touch the animal unless you are given specific instructions to do so by the MMSC.

* Only MMSC staff should carry out capture or removal of a seal.

* Keep yourself, as well as other observers, a minimum of 100 feet away from the animal. This is to prevent the animal from being prematurely chased back into the water, before staff arrives.