STRANDED ANIMAL GUIDE

PUBLIC WARNING Do not touch, pick up or feed the animal. Do not return the animal to the water. Seals and sea lions temporarily “haul out” on land to rest and mothers briefly leave their pups while at sea. A beached whale or dolphin should be reported immediately. Observe the animal from a distance of at least 50 feet. Keep people and dogs away. It is illegal for unauthorized persons to touch, harass, or prompt the animal in any way to change its natural behavior. It’s also stressful to the wild animal!

Stranded Wildlife Contact Numbers (updated 4/17/07)

Live and Dead Sea Otters:

• Monterey Bay Aquarium, SORAC (831) 648-4829

Live Cetaceans (whales, dolphins...)/ Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions…)/ Sea Turtles:

• The Marine Mammal Center Headquarters, Sausalito 415.289.SEAL (7325)
• Or in Santa Cruz 831.633.6298

Visit the MMC’s web page on reporting stranded marine mammals here:

http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/what_we_do/rescue/whattodo.asp

Live Seabirds:

• Native Animal Rescue (831) 462-0726, for non-oiled seabirds
• IBRRC, Cordelia (707) 207-0380, for oiled and non-oiled seabirds

Live Terrestrial Wildlife (EXCEPT bears and mountain lions):

In Santa Cruz:

• Native Animal Rescue, Santa Cruz (831) 462-0726 for birds/raccoons/deer/skunks/opossums

• Santa Cruz County Animal Services (831) 454-7303 for small birds/raccoons/skunks/coyotes

In Monterey:

• Monterey SPCA-Wildlife Unit (831) 373-2631 x227, everything except bears and mtn lions

Live Terrestrial Wildlife (EXCEPT bears and mountain lions):

• CDFG, Monterey (831) 649-2870, Contra Costa to SanLuisCounties, bears/mtn lions

Dead (whales, dolphins…)/Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions…)/Sea Turtles:

• In Monterey County: Moss Landing Marine Labs, Stranding Network (831) 771-4422

• In Santa Cruz County: Long Marine Lab Stranding Network (831) 212-1272

Dead Seabirds/Terrestrial Wildlife:

• CDFG-MWVCRC, Santa Cruz (831) 469-1719, oiled and non-oiled

Live Domestic Animals:

• In Santa Cruz County: Santa CruzCountyAnimal Services (831) 454-7303

• In Monterey County: SPCA (831) 373-2631 x22