How to Tell When a Seal, Sea Lion, or Fur Seal Needs Help

Two Hawaiian monk seals are photographed resting on a sandy beach. In the foreground there is a educational sign requesting onlookers to not approach the seals. There is a rope perimeter surrounding the seals keep people back. — As part of community outreach in Hawai‘i, trained responders create safe areas for resting Hawaiian monk seals. Expert responders will stay on scene to engage with and educate the public about the importance of protecting this endangered species. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, taken under NOAA permit #24359.

What should you do if you come across a live seal, fur seal, or sea lion on shore? While you might think they need your help, you should not attempt to approach, touch, handle, or return them to the water. Instead, you should maintain a safe and legal distance.

A common misconception is that these animals are onshore because they are sick, injured, or abandoned, but this is often not the case. Seals, fur seals, and sea lions come on land or ice to:

Rest
Breed
Nurse and rear pups
Molt
Avoid predators

For your safety, as well as the animal’s, it is important to give them space. If you see a marine mammal that you believe to be sick or injured, you should contact trained and authorized responders in your area.

Although well-intentioned, approaching, touching, or moving a potentially stranded marine mammal is stressful for the animal and could lead to health complications and poor outcomes. Wait for trained and authorized responders to arrive and assess the situation.

Harbor seal pup on beach near Lynn Canal in Juneau, Alaska. NOAA Permit 18786.

Let Pups Be

You may see seal or sea lion pups alone, but that does not always mean they are abandoned. In some species, moms leave their pups on shore for extended periods during certain times of the day while they go to sea for food. Many pups are not wary of humans and may not try to escape if approached. It is also normal for mothers to leave pups behind if there is a disturbance. They may not return if humans are too close to the pup onshore. It is important to keep your distance so mom can return to care for her pup.

Sometimes beachgoers think pups need to go back into the water—that is not the case. Making seal pups go into the water can put them at risk of over-exhaustion, drowning, or exposure to predators. If the pup is abandoned or injured, trained responders need to assess the situation and find the appropriate ways to help. It is standard practice to observe pups for 24 to 48 hours to determine whether they are truly alone. A pup’s best chance of survival is to stay with its mother.

Human Safety Concerns

Seals, fur seals, and sea lions can behave unpredictably if approached. You should not closely approach, touch, or handle them without the proper authorizations, training, and appropriate resources (e.g., personal protective equipment). These animals are capable of causing physical injuries, including:

Cuts
Scrapes
Bites
Bruises
Broken bones

They can carry infectious diseases that can spread to both humans and pets, which may require medication or hospitalization in extreme cases. To ensure safety and avoid startling the seals, keep your dogs on a leash. NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, in collaboration with the National Marine Mammal Stranding Response Network, has developed and refined techniques and best practices to prioritize the health and safety of responders. Trained responders assess each stranding individually and make the best decisions based on their training and specifics of each situation.

A California sea lion is pictured lying on a sandy beach surrounded by yellow cordon tape creating a safety perimeter. — A California sea lion suffering from domoic acid toxicosis is surrounded by yellow caution tape on a Los Angeles beach. Credit: Marine Mammal Care Center of Los Angeles.

How to Tell When a Seal, Fur Seal, or Sea Lion Needs Help

Seals, fur seals, and sea lions are wild animals, and occasional minor injuries are normal. More serious conditions that require assessment by trained responders include:

Serious or potentially life-threatening injuries (e.g., excessive blood, open wounds)
Unusual behavior (e.g., head shaking, violent seizures, appear disoriented, foaming at mouth, observed eating rocks or sand)
Severely underweight
Entanglement

If you observe any of these signs, keep your distance and contact responders in your area.

Determining the Best Response

The National Marine Mammal Stranding Response Network is composed of trained, authorized, and experienced responders and veterinarians. Response teams typically start by assessing images or monitoring the animal from a safe distance to observe and document any notable physical or behavioral characteristics. This is also a good opportunity to assess the environment for risks.

Responders consider several factors when determining next steps:

Human safety
Stranding location and potential hazards
Species
Age class (pup, juvenile, adult)
Social requirements (some individuals are better released in groups)
Animal condition and health/injury status (likelihood of survival)
Available staff, resources, expertise, and funding
Conservation priority (endangered species may have priority over abundant species)

Our partners in the Stranding Network are experienced and trained. They are authorized to determine the appropriate response for each situation. Potential actions may include:

Continued monitoring by trained responders
Medical treatment
Transporting the animal to a safer (and quieter) release location
Transporting the animal to an authorized rehabilitation facility

Sometimes, responders must decide to euthanize an animal in accordance with nationally approved veterinary methods. The decision to euthanize an animal is never taken lightly. It is only used when identified as the best option for the animal.

A harbor seal pup lies on a pink towel. In the background you can make out a network responder wearing blue nitrile gloves gently supporting the animal. — Stranding Network partners responded to a young harbor seal that was harassed by off-leash dogs and subsequently moved by members of the public using shovels. The animal was located and transported to Mystic Aquarium for rehabilitation, where it made a full recovery. Credit: Mystic Aquarium

Responders Collect Valuable Data

Response teams gather data on stranding events, regardless of whether the animal is alive or dead. This comprehensive information is crucial for understanding the possible causes of strandings and determining the most effective response methods. When a member of the public moves or alters an animal or carcass, it becomes significantly more challenging—and often impossible—to identify the underlying reasons for the stranding. This vital health information also serves broader purposes, including monitoring diseases, identifying distribution shifts, and reducing threats to marine mammal populations. This information is foundational to our science and management efforts for mitigating human interactions.

What Can You Do?

All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and some are also listed under the Endangered Species Act. It is illegal for the public to harass protected species, which includes touching, handling, or closely approaching stranded marine mammals. However, you can still help an animal in distress without approaching or handling them. Prompt and accurate reporting to local Stranding Network hotlines and responders is essential and can positively impact the outcome of a response.

When reporting a stranded marine mammal, include the following information:

Date and time
Location
Number of animals
Condition of the animal (alive or dead)
Species (if known)
Photos and/or videos, if taken from a safe and legal distance

Responding to animals in distress, rehabilitating them, and understanding the causes of their injuries and illness requires significant time and resources. Stranding organizations rely heavily on support from their local communities. You can make a difference by contacting your local Stranding Network to see how you can get involved.

More Information

Last updated by Office of Protected Resources on 03/20/2026