Dolphin Strandings
Learn About Dolphin Strandings
Although dolphins are prolific along the coastline of Los Angeles, encountering one on a beach – especially a live animal – is alarming.
Dolphins can strand for a variety of reasons, including illness, injury or disorientation. They are also known to suffer impacts from the same toxic algal blooms that affect sea lions. Dolphins spend their entire lives at sea and are not built to survive out of the water, so it’s important to call for help immediately.
Stay back
Keep at least 50 feet away to minimize stress and prevent unintentional harm.
Alert the experts
Call the Marine Mammal Care Center’s hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE and report your location.
Do not push the dolphin back into the water
Stranded dolphins often come ashore due to illness or injury and returning them to the water immediately can actually reduce their chances of survival.
Minimize noise and disturbance
Avoid loud sounds, keep dogs and crowds away, and speak in hushed tones.
Once our trained responders arrive, they will assess the dolphin’s health, taking note of visible injuries, breathing rate and body condition. They may keep the animal cool and wet by covering it with damp sheets or towels (avoiding the blowhole, which allows the animal to breathe).
The Center’s veterinarians will determine whether the dolphin can be rehabilitated, and if so, it may be transported to an appropriate location for continued care. However, rehabilitation is not always possible depending on the animal’s condition.
Stress can be a major factor as dolphins are highly intelligent and social animals, and strandings can be traumatic. In many cases, the most humane option is to end the animal’s suffering through euthanasia.
What We Can Learn from Strandings
Every stranding event can be an opportunity for scientists to learn more about ocean health. Even when a dolphin does not survive a stranding or must be euthanized, we are still able to learn from their death.
The Center’s researchers collect measurements, samples and other data points that help them learn more about these animals as well as the threats they face. Many strandings are caused by human activities such as entanglement in fishing gear, noise pollution, ship strikes, or impacts from human-caused climate change like an increase in toxic algal blooms.
Learn more about what you can do to take action for our ocean.
Together with ocean heroes like you, we can make a difference for dolphins. Your generosity not only provides marine mammals with a second chance at life but also contributes to the long-term health of our ocean.
