University of Miami's Marine Mammal Rescue Team
Strandings
A cetacean is considered stranded when they are found dead or when they are alive but unable to return to the water on their own. Whereas for pinnipeds, a stranding is defined as a dead pinniped or a pinniped in need of medical attention since they are normally found on land.
In the event of a stranding, please call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). As precisely as possible, describe the location, physical characteristics, health condition and behavior of the stranded mammals. Do not attempt to help the animal yourself, even if you have went through our training.
Information used above and more on stranding events in general can be found here
Learn More About Strandings
Make sure to follow the instruction of FWC or our stranding coordinator before jumping in to help. This step is imperative so that the animal is not further injured. Also, in the event that your help is not necessary, be respectful and stay out of the way of the professionals. Remember that they likely have much more experience than you and know how to best help the situation.
There are many reasons that an animal might strand, but a few include:
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ship strike injuries
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entanglement in fishing gear
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disease resulting from exposure to HABs
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starvation
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parasitism
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unusual weather/oceanographic events
Information collected on the scene gives researchers lots of information on seasonal distribution, natural history, population health, environmental contaminant levels, cases of human interaction, and incidence of disease. Most of this information is collected during the necropsy (animal autopsy).