Photo Credit: Philip Charles
The process for reporting a dead or distressed animal varies by region. Please use the tables below to find your regional contact.
Be prepared to note:
Date, time and location (latitude/longitude) of animal if you can
Type of animal
Behaviours of the animal you observed
Entangling gear
Any visible injuries
Keep your distance and abide by the Marine Mammal Regulations in your region.
Safety: Do not approach or attempt to assist marine mammals in distress. Wild animals can be extremely dangerous and may carry pathogens that can pass to humans. Rescue attempts should only be attempted by trained professionals.
Entanglement: Do not remove any fishing gear or rope that may be trailing from the animal. Anchored animals are easier to find, and long trailing gear is helpful to the trained response team. If possible, standby the entangled animal at a safe distance.
CANADA
Region | Contact Information |
Pacific | BC Marine Mammal Response Network (Observe, Record, Report): 1-800-465-4336 VHF Channel 16 To learn how to properly report and document entangled animals to assist trained responders, download the Mariners Guide to Reporting Entangled Whales in western Canada. |
Central & Arctic | Northwest Territories - Inuvik: 1-867-777-7500 Northwest Territories - Yellowknife: 1-867-669-4900 Nunavut - Iqaluit: 1-867-979-8000 |
Quebec | Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN): 1-877-722-5346 |
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island | Marine Animal Response Society: 1-866-567-6277 VHF Channel 16 Canadian Sea Turtle Network 1-888-729-4667 (toll-free) |
Newfoundland & Labrador | Whale Release and Strandings Newfoundland and Labrador (Tangly Whales Inc.): 1-888-895-3003 or 1-709-895-3003 |
UNITED STATES
Region | Contact Information |
Alaska | NOAA Fisheries Alaska Statewide 2r-Hour Stranding Hotline: 877-925-7773 |
West Coast | West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: 1-866-767-6114 Entanglement Reporting Hotline: 1-877-SOS-WHAL or 1877-767-9425 The U.S. Coast Guard: VHF Ch. 16 |
Pacific Islands | Hawai’i Statewide Marine Animal Stranding, Entanglement, and Reporting Hotline: 888-256-9840 |
Southeast | NOAA Fisheries Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline: 877-942-5343 or 877-WHALE-HELP NOAA Fisheries Southeast Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Hotline: 844-732-8785 or 877-SEA-TRTL |
New England/Mid-Atlantic | Northeast Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Hotline: 866-755-6622 or 866-755-NOAA |