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If you’re in the United States, call the NOAA Fisheries 24/7 marine mammal stranding hotline for your region. It routes reports to local responders. Keep people and pets back, and do not touch, move, feed, chase, or try to rescue the animal. NOAA’s reporting directory lists regional and state contacts.
U.S. regional marine mammal stranding hotlines
Choose the hotline for the region where the animal is located. These are U.S. contacts, not international numbers. NOAA’s detailed reporting directory can help you verify the appropriate regional or state contact.
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| NOAA region | 24/7 stranding hotline |
|---|---|
| Alaska | (877) 925-7773 |
| Greater Atlantic | (866) 755-6622 |
| Pacific Islands | (888) 256-9840 |
| Southeast | (877) 942-5343 |
| West Coast | (866) 767-6114 |
NOAA also lists the Dolphin and Whale 911 app as an optional reporting method for Apple devices. If you are unsure which contact applies, use the directory or call the regional hotline.
What to do when you find a stranded animal
- Call promptly. Report a live, injured, entangled, or dead marine mammal. NOAA describes a stranding as including an animal dead on shore or in the water, alive on land and unable to return, or in the water and apparently unable to return to its habitat without help or needing medical attention.
- Keep your distance and clear the area. NOAA’s general directory advises staying at least 50 yards (150 feet) from marine mammals and sea turtles. Regional instructions can differ: NOAA’s West Coast guidance says at least 100 yards, and Greater Atlantic guidance asks people to take photos from 150 feet away. Follow the local network’s direction and remain at a safe distance.
- Do not handle or interfere with the animal. Do not touch, move, feed, chase, corral, or try to disentangle it. Keep dogs and other pets away. Handling and close approach are for trained, authorized responders.
- Give the hotline useful details. Share the date and time, exact location or nearby landmarks, number of animals, and whether each appears alive or dead and visibly injured or ill. Give a species name or description if you know it. For an entangled animal, describe the gear and where it is caught.
- Wait nearby only if it is safe. Keep the area calm and do not block the animal’s movement. Staying at a safe distance can help responders locate and assess it. A response is not always possible, including when it would put people at risk.
How far away should you stay?
There is no single distance in the cited NOAA guidance that applies to every region and situation. The national directory gives a general minimum of 50 yards (150 feet); NOAA’s West Coast page says at least 100 yards, and Greater Atlantic asks for photos from 150 feet away. Use the applicable regional network’s instructions, stay farther back if needed for safety, and do not approach to get a closer look or take a picture.
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If you see a seal or sea lion on shore
Some seals and sea lions haul out on shore to rest, so being on the beach does not by itself establish that an animal is stranded. NOAA’s West Coast guidance says to report a live pinniped that remains on shore for more than 24 hours. Report an animal that is obviously sick or injured, and report any dead marine mammal. If you cannot tell whether it needs help, call the network for advice rather than approaching or moving it.
Special case: an entangled whale off the West Coast
For a suspected whale entanglement off California, Oregon, or Washington, NOAA lists a separate entanglement hotline: 1-877-SOS-WHAL (1-877-767-9425). NOAA also identifies the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16. Do not try to remove gear or free the whale yourself; disentanglement is for experienced, authorized, properly equipped responders.
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Outside the United States
The numbers above cover NOAA’s U.S. regions only. If the animal is elsewhere, contact the relevant local wildlife or marine mammal stranding authority; the NOAA directory does not establish contacts for other countries.
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