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.
NOAA Fisheries has heard from its marine mammal and sea turtle stranding network partners who are making operational decisions based on COVID-19 that may impact the ability to respond to strandings and entanglement incidents. However, all stranding hotlines should remain staffed, and the public should continue to report all sightings of stranded animals to the appropriate contact number for your location (select your region below). As always, if you see a stranded marine mammal or sea turtle, keep people and pets back a safe distance of 50 yards (150 feet).
There is currently no evidence to support claims that whales, sea lions or other marine mammals are infected with COVID-19. More information about pets and other animals is on this Centers for Disease Control website.
Select Your Region
Alaska
Reporting Key
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
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
Alaska SeaLife Center 24-Hour Stranding Hotline
Seward, AK
*Includes injured/stranded walruses, sea otters, and polar bears
Phone: (888) 774-7325
Marine Mammals Management Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Anchorage, AK
*For injured/stranded walruses, sea otters, and polar bears
Phone: (800) 362-5148 (business hours only)
Reporting Death/Injury of a Marine Mammal During Commercial Fishing Operations
Phone: (907) 586-7240 (business hours only)
Alaska Partners
Alaska Consortium of Zooarchaeologists
Anchorage, AK
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Dillingham, AK
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Juneau, AK
Alaska SeaLife Center
Seward, AK
Alaska State Parks
Juneau, AK
Alaska State Parks
Kodiak, AK
Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services
Eagle River, AK
Alaska Whale Foundation
Petersburg, AK
Aleut Community of St. Paul
St. Paul, AK
Rachel Berngartt, DVM
Juneau, AK
Chichagof Conservation Council
Tenakee, AK
Glacier Bay National Park
Gustavus, AK
North Slope Borough
Barrow, AK
Petersburg Marine Mammal Center
Petersburg, AK
Sitka Sound Science Center
Sitka, AK
Togiak National Wildlife Refuge
Togiak, AK
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Museum of the North
Fairbanks, AK
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Marine Advisory Program, SE Alaska
Ketchikan, AK
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Marine Advisory Program, NW Alaska
Nome, AK
University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau
Juneau, AK
University of Alaska, Sitka
Sitka, AK
U.S. Forest Service
Yakutat, AK
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Reporting Key
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
Regional
Northeast Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Hotline
Phone: (866) 755-NOAA (866-755-6622)
Connecticut/Rhode Island
Delaware
Maine
Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline
Phone: (800) 532-9551
Maryland
Maryland Marine Animal Reporting Hotline
Phone: (800) 628-9944
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
Oxford, MD
(Dead animals only)
Massachusetts
NOAA Hotline
Phone: (866) 755-NOAA (866-755-6622)
Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Phone: (508) 349-2615 x 6104
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Cape Cod and southeastern MA
Phone: (508) 743-9548
Center for Coastal Studies
Provincetown, MA
(entangled animals in the marine environment only)
Phone: (800) 900-3622
Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC)
Marshfield through Plymouth, MA
Phone: (617) 688-6872
New Hampshire
NOAA Hotline
Phone: (866) 755-NOAA
New Jersey
New York
New York Stranding Hotline
Phone: (631) 369-9829
Virginia
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
Virginia Beach, VA
Phone: (757) 385-7575
Pacific Islands
Reporting Key
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
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
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)
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
Email: RespectWildlife@noaa.gov
For Non-Emergencies - Monk Seal Photos and Written Reports
Guam
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
Agana, GU
Phone: (671) 472-7200
Conservation Office Hotline
Phone: (671) 688-DAWR (671-688-3297)
Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Resources Administrative Office
Mangilao, GU
*Please contact during regular business hours
Phone: (671) 735-0281 or (671) 735-0294
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife Hotline
Saipan, MP
Phone: (670) CTRTLES (670-287-8537)
NOAA CNMI Field Office
Phone: (670) 285-2287
American Samoa
American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
Pago Pago, AS
Phone: (684) 633-4456 or (684) 252-0445
For Non-Emergencies - General
Southeast
Reporting Key
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
Regional
NOAA Fisheries Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
Phone: (877) WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343)
NOAA Fisheries Southeast Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Hotline
State-specific hotline numbers listed below.
Phone: (844) SEA-TRTL (844-732-8785)
Smalltooth Sawfish Encounter Hotline
Phone: (844) 4SAWFISH or (844) 472-9347
Sturgeon Salvage Network
Phone: (844) STURG-911 or (844) 788-7491
Alabama
Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
Phone: (877) WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343)
Alabama Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Hotline
Phone: (866) SEA-TURTLE (866-732-8878)
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Dauphin Island, AL
Florida
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Wildlife Alert Hotline
Phone: (888) 404-FWCC (888-404-3922)
Florida Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
Phone: (888) 404-FWCC (888-404-3922)
Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserve Office
Eastpoint, FL
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater, FL
Dolphin Conservation Field Station at Marineland
St. Augustine, FL
Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Inc.
Destin, FL
Florida Aquarium
Tampa, FL
Florida Marine Mammal Stranding Network—Southwest Region
Port Charlotte, FL
FWC FWRI Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory
St. Petersburg, FL
FWC Northeast Field Laboratory
Jacksonville, FL
FWC Tallahassee
Tallahassee, FL
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Breeze, FL
Gulf World Marine Park
Panama City, FL
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute—Florida Atlantic University
Fort Pierce, FL
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute
Orlando, FL
Marine Animal Rescue Society
Miami, FL
Dolphins Plus Oceanside Marine Mammal Responders
Key Largo, FL
Mote Marine Laboratory
Sarasota, FL
NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami Laboratory
Miami, FL
Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves Office, Florida DEP
Milton, FL
SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando, FL
Volusia County
DeLand, FL
University of Florida/Cedar Key Northwest Florida Marine Mammal Stranding Program
Gainesville, FL
Georgia
Georgia Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
Phone: (912) 269-7587
Georgia Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
Phone: (912) 280-6892
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Brunswick, GA
Louisiana
Louisiana Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
Phone: (504) 235-3005
Louisiana Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
Phone: (844) SEA-TRTL
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
New Orleans, LA
Mississippi
Mississippi Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
Phone: 844-SEA-TRTL (844-732-8785)
Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and Stranding Hotline
Gulfport, MS
Phone: (888) SOS-Dolphin (888-767-3657)
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Ocean Springs, MS
NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Pascagoula Laboratory
Pascagoula, MS
North Carolina
North Carolina Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Hotline
Phone: (252) 241-7367
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Morehead City, NC
Phone: (252) 241-5119
University of North Carolina–Wilmington Marine Mammal Stranding Program
Wilmington, NC
Phone: 910-515-7354
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Manteo, NC
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher, NC
North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine
Morehead City, NC
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education
Corolla, NC
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline
Phone: (787) 538-4684 or (787) 645-5595
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Santurce, PR
South Carolina
South Carolina Stranding Hotline
Phone: (800) 922-5431
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC
National Ocean Service Charleston Laboratory
Charleston, SC
Texas
Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network Hotline
Galveston, TX
Phone: (800) 9MAMMAL (800-962-6625)
Texas Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
Phone: (361) 949-8173 x 226
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Austwell, TX
Texas State Aquarium
Corpus Christi, TX
SeaWorld San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
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
West Coast
Reporting Key
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
Marine Mammals
Sea Turtles
Regional
West Coast Region Stranding Hotline
Phone: (866) 767-6114
California - Live Animal Response
Northcoast Marine Mammal Center
Counties served: Del Norte and Humboldt
Phone: (707) 951-4722
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) 289-7325
Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute
Counties served: Santa Barbara and Ventura
Phone: (805) 567-1505
California Wildlife Center
Counties served: Los Angeles – City of Malibu only
Phone: (310) 458-9453
Marine Animal Rescue
Counties served: Los Angeles – except for Malibu
Phone: (800) 399-4253
Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles
Rehabilitation in Los Angeles County
Phone: (310) 548-5677
Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Counties served: Orange
Phone: (949) 494-3050
SeaWorld of California
Counties served: San Diego
Phone: (800) 541-7325
California - Dead Animal Response
Humboldt State University
Counties served: Del Norte, Northern Mendocino, and Humboldt
Phone: (707) 826-3650
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
Long Marine Laboratory
Counties served: Santa Cruz
Phone: (831) 212-1272
Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute
Counties served: Santa Barbara and Ventura
Phone: (805) 567-1505
Moss Landing Marine Laboratory
Counties served: Monterey
Phone: (831) 771-4422
Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit
Counties served: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura
Phone: (805) 896-0858
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
Counties served: Los Angeles and Orange
Phone: (323) 585-5105
NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Counties served: San Diego
Phone: (858) 546-7162
Oregon
Portland State University/Seaside Aquarium
Areas served: all counties north of the City of Tillamook
Phone: (503) 738-6211
Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute
Areas served: all counties south of the City of Tillamook
Phone: (541) 270-6830
Puget Sound, Washington
Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (360) 966-8845
San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (800) 562-8832
Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (866) ORCANET
Sno-King Marine Mammal Response
Phone: (206) 695-2277
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (206) 905-7325
MaST Center Stranding Team
Phone: (206) 724-2687
Vashon Hydrophone Project
Phone: (206) 463-9041
Washington Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Phone: (253) 589-7235
Cascadia Research Collective
Phone: (360) 791-9555
Port Townsend Marine Science Center
Phone: (360) 385-5582 x 103
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
Phone: (360) 457-8451
Feiro Marine Life Center
Phone: (360) 417-6254
Washington
Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (360) 966-8845
San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (800) 562-8832
Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (866) ORCANET
Sno-King Marine Mammal Response
Phone: (206) 695-2277
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Phone: (206) 905-7325
MaST Center Stranding Team
Phone: (206) 724-2687
Vashon Hydrophone Project
Phone: (206) 463-9041
Washington Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Phone: (253) 589-7235
Cascadia Research Collective
Phone: (360) 791-9555
Port Townsend Marine Science Center
Phone: (360) 385-5582 x 103
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
Phone: (360) 457-8451
Feiro Marine Life Center
Phone: (360) 417-6254
Makah Tribe
Phone: (360) 640-0569
Olympic National Park
Phone: (360) 565-3115
NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Phone: (360) 457-6622
Portland State University/Seaside Aquarium
Phone: (503) 738-6211