Marine Mammal Strandings: Welfare Response

Marine mammal strandings — whales, dolphins, and seals coming ashore alive — require skilled welfare response to minimize suffering and maximize survival where feasible.

Key Facts

An estimated 2,000 cetacean strandings occur annually in the US
Mass strandings can involve hundreds of animals and require coordinated response
Refloating live-stranded whales has a low survival rate without addressing the underlying cause
Euthanasia is often the most welfare-appropriate response for severely compromised animals
Noise pollution, entanglement, and illness are leading causes of cetacean strandings

Welfare Considerations

Stranded marine mammals experience acute and often severe suffering — from dehydration, overheating, crushing by their own body weight, panic, and the underlying illness or injury that caused stranding. Response teams face difficult welfare decisions about whether to attempt refloating or to euthanize. Welfare-conscious response requires rapid assessment of prognosis, skilled handling to minimize additional stress, and willingness to prioritize euthanasia over extended unsuccessful rescue attempts.

What You Can Do

Know your regional marine mammal stranding network before encountering a stranded animal
Never attempt to push a stranded cetacean back to sea without expert guidance
Keep distance from stranded animals and prevent other bystanders from touching them
Donate to regional marine mammal stranding networks
Advocate for ocean noise pollution reduction to address a leading stranding cause