Marine Mammal Stranding Program (original) (raw)
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Our Mission
We strive to investigate strandings to improve our understanding of the biology of marine mammals that inhabit our local waters, so that we may enhance their conservation. Through this, we aim to educate students through their participation in marine mammal stranding investigations.
To report a marine mammal stranding, call 910.515.7354
Please have the following information ready to report:
- Location of the stranding
- GPS coordinates, street address, or beach access #
- Condition of animal
- Alive, deceased, injured
- Photo confirmation of the stranded animal
- During our response prep, this helps our team know the size and species of the animal and what gear to bring
NOTE: Seals are visitors to our shores throughout the year. Seals will sometimes haul out on land to rest - this is natural behavior. Since seals are mammals, they breathe air and do not need to stay wet in order to survive. Please stay 150+ feet away from seals in the wild, and call our hotline to report any seal sightings in our area.
Join the Wave of Support!
Our Marine Mammal Stranding Program depends on the support of individuals like you. Every contribution, whether big or small, helps support our mission to understand, preserve & protect our marine mammals.
Report a Manatee Sighting
Have you spotted a manatee in North Carolina? Please report your sighting to us. Manatees are federally protected, so your report helps safeguard them. Thank you for giving them space and contributing to their conservation.
Join Our Team as a Volunteer!
Dive into a world of hands-on learning & marine exploration. Our dynamic team is a mix of volunteers, students, faculty & staff from the Department of Biology & Marine Biology. Fill out our volunteer interest form below & become a valued member of our volunteer community.
A marine mammal is considered stranded when it is found deceased, either on shore or floating in the water, or alive on shore and unable to return to the water. Marine mammal strandings are relatively common events along the North Carolina coast, and North Carolina experiences the highest number of strandings, per unit length of beach, of any state along the Atlantic or Gulf coasts. We also experience the highest species diversity of marine mammals along the Atlantic coast. To date, all but two species known to occur in the North Atlantic have stranded on North Carolina beaches.
Though the primary focus of a stranding investigation is to determine the cause of the stranding, marine mammal strandings also offer researchers a unique opportunity to gather data from these federally protected species. These data are used to better understand the biology of marine mammals, to document human impacts on them, and ultimately to help ensure their conservation.
Our primary response area includes Brunswick County, New Hanover County, Pender County, and Onslow County, North Carolina. We also travel to other areas within our state and region to assist our colleagues when requested.
As long as the conditions are safe to do so, our team responds to any species of marine mammal. This includes whales, dolphins, porpoises, manatees, and seals.
*Note: Sea turtles are reptiles, not marine mammals. If you find a sea turtle that appears sick, injured, stranded, or deceased, please call the NC Sea Turtle Stranding & Salvage Network at 252-241-7367
A marine mammal is any animal that meets the following criteria:
- Lives in oceanic or brackish waters
- Are vertebrate animals (animals with a backbone)
- Give birth to live young
- Possess mammary glands used to provide young with milk
- Have hair at some point in their development
- Regulate their own body temperature independent of their environment (are "warm-blooded")
Examples of these animals are toothed whales and baleen whales, dolphins, porpoises, manatees, and seals.