. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. If you find a stranded marine mammal . . Photo by Hilda Livingstone. Grampus stranding at Nags Head Beach, February 1981 Fact: There is a marine mammal stranding along the North Carolina coast nearly every week. While the bottlenosed dolphin is the most com- mon species, whales occasionally wash up, and, even less frequently, a seal or two. Stranded animals may be alone or in a group, dead or alive, but most still provide valuable sources of informa- tion in marine mammal biology. What do you do if you fin
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. If you find a stranded marine mammal . . Photo by Hilda Livingstone. Grampus stranding at Nags Head Beach, February 1981 Fact: There is a marine mammal stranding along the North Carolina coast nearly every week. While the bottlenosed dolphin is the most com- mon species, whales occasionally wash up, and, even less frequently, a seal or two. Stranded animals may be alone or in a group, dead or alive, but most still provide valuable sources of informa- tion in marine mammal biology. What do you do if you find a stranded marine mammal? First, you should be aware that marine mammals come under the jurisdiction of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Un- der its provisions, it is unlawful for anyone without a permit to handle, harass or possess any marine mammal, dead or alive, and there are stiff fines and possible imprisonment for violators. Agencies or institutions with legal responsibility should be notified. David Lee of the State Museum of Natural History and Charley Potter of the Smithsonian Institution's Marine Mammal Salvage Program suggest the following steps: What is it? Before you notify the authorities, gather as much information as possible on the stranding without handling the animal. Is it a shark or a mammal? Sharks have vertical tail fins, and whales have horizontal tail fins. Is it a mass or individual stranding? Is it a seal, manatee or whale (including dolphins and porpoises)? Is it a toothed whale or a baleen whale? Toothed whales have a single blowhole; baleen whales have two. If it is a toothed whale, how many teeth are present on the upper and/or lower jaw? (Do not attempt this search if the animal is still alive.) What is the shape of the head? Are there any obvious color markings? Estimate the length either by measuring or by walking off the length of the animal. For seals, note color and texture of fur or hair, presence or absence of external
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