First Phone Whale Release and Strandings’ toll-free number:
1 (888) 895-3003
- Remember these are wild animals: use caution around them. Their powerful tail fins can inflict serious injuries.
- Do not try to disentangle the whale yourself.
- Do not attempt to move large whales. This is very dangerous.
- If possible take photographs and remember to put an object in for scale to help determine the size of the animal.
SUPPORT ON THE BEACH
- Check for injuries
- Reduce stress by keeping crowds & dogs away
- Place wet towels/blankets on animal (not over blowhole)
- Pour water over animal (not over or near blowhole)
- Minimize handling.
- When lifting, do not use fins, flippers, tail or flukes as handles. Do not stand on flippers.
- Remove sharp objects from underneath animal.
- Move animals from heavy surf.
- Dig trenches for flipper and tail. Animal should rest upright.
- Use tarp or stretcher to move whales.
SUPPORT IN THE WATER:
- Support by hand or stretcher.
- Small whales can be held with one hand positioned behind and under the flipper and the other behind the dorsal fin.
- Face multiple animals toward each other so they can see where the others are.
- If animal is unstable, rock it back and forth before release so it can regain its sense of balance.
- When animal begins thrashing stop rocking it.
- DO NOT submerge blowholes. This is like submerging a person’s nostrils!
- DO NOT tow whale by the tail; it can break their backs.
- If there are multiple whales, release them in a horizontal line.
- Make noise on the water to drive whales offshore.