Marine Mammal Stranding Center

Marine Mammal Stranding Center MMSC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the
RESCUE, REHABILITATION & RELEASE of marine mammals

All photography/videography of marine mammals on this page is conducted under a Stranding Agreement between NOAA NMFS and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Some-bunny told us they want a seal adoption in their basket! 🦭Every adoption helps to provide food, medicine and veteri...
03/15/2025

Some-bunny told us they want a seal adoption in their basket! 🦭
Every adoption helps to provide food, medicine and veterinary care for the seals that are in our hospital right now, so please give a gift that makes a difference! Visit our online store at the following link to explore our adoption packages today-
https://mmsc.org/online-store/ols/categories/animal-adopt

*Shipping notes: The last day to place orders for Symbolic Animal Adoptions and other gifts shipped from our online store is Monday April 14th. This will give us enough time to fulfill your orders and get them shipped out in time for Easter. In-store pickup may also be arranged on Saturdays through April 19th. The final date to place an order for in-store pickup is Friday March 18th at noon. Thank you for your support!

03/14/2025

MMSC Live Patient Update 🦭Join us on hospital rounds to hear updates on our eleven patients and how seal season in New Jersey is going so far this year!

Did you know that we do approximately 150lbs of laundry every week during seal season? The Stranding Technicians go thro...
03/14/2025

Did you know that we do approximately 150lbs of laundry every week during seal season? The Stranding Technicians go through a lot of towels while handling the seals for feedings and medical treatments. Last year this resulted in about 4,000lbs of laundry! Thanks to Ken and fellow anonymous donors who purchased laundry detergent from our Amazon Wish List, our laundry needs have been covered this week! Grey seal #25-009 (Beach Haven) would like to thank you for your donations! ❤

"Shhhh....Please let me rest!"Why should we ? Seals need to haul out on land to rest after hunting to digest their food...
03/14/2025

"Shhhh....Please let me rest!"
Why should we ? Seals need to haul out on land to rest after hunting to digest their food and restore their energy. Not giving them at least 150 feet of space forces seals to be constantly vigilant, wasting their energy and may force them back into the water before they are ready. Many of the seals in our area are young animals that still have a big learning curve, it is unfair to them to add our human need for photos, videos, selfies and social media check-in's to their list of challenges they must navigate to survive in the wild.
Seals are Federally-protected animals, and require at least 150 feet (three school buses) of space, MORE if they seem alert to your presence. Dogs should be leashed on the beach, as seals pack a very powerful bite, and can transmit diseases to both humans and dogs. Please DO NOT post locations of seals on social media, it only draws crowds and encourages others to "grab a quick photo", creating more disturbance and stress for the seals. Always call MMSC's 24-hour hotline (609) 266-0538 to report your sightings so that our Stranding Team can assess the seal's health and safety. Thank you to all of our followers who have been sharing our message and encouraging others to respect the seals!

Just one of the kids from the big pool stopping by your timeline to say "Hi Friends!" 🦭It seems our "Donate" button is g...
03/13/2025

Just one of the kids from the big pool stopping by your timeline to say "Hi Friends!" 🦭It seems our "Donate" button is glitching, so while we are working with FB IT to fix that, many of you have asked how you can donate directly through our website. Please follow this link to learn the many ways you can donate to our organization, including online, via the mail, becoming a member, adopting a seal, or purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List. Thank you for your support! ❤
https://mmsc.org/ways-to-donate

03/12/2025

Can you guess this sound? 🔊
Listen closely, and let us know below if you guessed correctly!

03/11/2025

Look who graduated to the BIG pool! 🦭🎓
On Monday the Stranding Team moved Grey seals #25-002 (Strathmere) and #25-003 (Belmar) from the ICU into the pool. They both took their time on the deck getting familiar with their new surroundings before heading into the pool to explore every square inch of their new enclosure. The time they spend in our 30-foot exercise pool is the next step their rehabilitation journey, bringing them closer to their release back into the wild as they build up those swimming muscles. We hope you enjoy this video of the boys and their first few moments exploring their new digs!

🚨Today's New Patient Alert is pretty BIG!🚨On March 7th we received a call for a large adult male Harp seal hauled out on...
03/11/2025

🚨Today's New Patient Alert is pretty BIG!🚨
On March 7th we received a call for a large adult male Harp seal hauled out on Brant Beach, Long Beach Island, NJ. The seal's behavior on the beach was observed for 24 hours by MMSC staff and certified Stranding Volunteers local to the area. When evaluating a Harp seal’s behavior, something we watch for is substrate eating. As an Arctic species, Harp seals often consume snow and ice for fresh water. When they haul out on our beaches, sick, dehydrated and stressed Harp seals may start eating sand, confusing it for snow, putting them in danger of gastric impaction.
When the seal didn't move on the following morning and showed evidence of consuming sand, two staff members from MMSC's Stranding Team returned the next day on March 8th. With the help of volunteers and the Long Beach Township Department of Public Works, the large seal was loaded into the Stranding truck and transported to MMSC. Once admitted into the hospital, staff immediately began supportive care via tube feeding to rehydrate the seal, and started treatment to flush the sand out of his system with fluids and mineral oil. The seal's intake weight was 154.9 lbs. We are also frequently supplying our new patient with piles of ice for his comfort, which he immediately consumed as soon as we got him settled into his enclosure. He is currently resting comfortably in Pen D of the ICU and has already started to eat fish on his own.
Harp seals are one of our most fascinating winter visitors. We typically see juveniles and two-to-three year-olds, but are sometimes graced by the beautiful black and white adult Harp seals on our beaches. These seals are named for the dark harp-shaped pattern on their back that forms in their adult coat. This species is most commonly found dwelling on the ice in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, but have been known to travel as far south as Virginia in the winter. Newborn Harp seal pups are born pure white with a fluffy coat of lanugo, and are one of the Arctic’s most iconic animals.
With eleven seals in our hospital including this big guy, we are going through a lot of fish this season! Won't you consider making a donation to MMSC this seal season to help support our efforts with sick and injured marine mammals? Thank you so much for your support! https://mmsc.org/ways-to-donate

We interrupt your newsfeed with this handsome Grey seal 🩶Grey seal #25-002 (Strathmere) will have a BIG announcement to...
03/10/2025

We interrupt your newsfeed with this handsome Grey seal 🩶
Grey seal #25-002 (Strathmere) will have a BIG announcement to share with you tomorrow afternoon...stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone who attended our very first "Brunch for a Porpoise" event!🐬 We were honored to have so many longti...
03/10/2025

Thank you to everyone who attended our very first "Brunch for a Porpoise" event!🐬 We were honored to have so many longtime MMSC supporters in attendance, as well as many new friends who joined us from throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware! We truly enjoyed meeting everyone and sharing MMSC's mission with you. We could not do this lifesaving work without YOUR support! ❤
Thank you to our event sponsors Rancocas Veterinary Associates , Anne Judge Aesthetics - Brigantine NJ and Brigantine Elks Lodge #2428 for making this event possible. Thank you to our amazing hosts Smithville Inn, Historic Smithville NJ for your support and hospitality. Thank you to the Haley & Timmy Duo for generously donating your time and talents, we are so grateful to have you as part of our MMSC family! Thank you to EVERYONE who donated items for the basket raffle and silent auction. And of course, thank you to our incredible team of MMSC volunteers and staff for making this event a success. Thank you all for being a friend to the animals and supporting our mission here at the MMSC! ❤

When the alarm goes off on the Monday after Daylight Savings..⏰💤
03/10/2025

When the alarm goes off on the Monday after Daylight Savings..⏰💤

🚨NEW PATIENT ALERT🚨On March 4th this male Grey seal pup was spotted on the beach in Atlantic City close to the Golden Nu...
03/07/2025

🚨NEW PATIENT ALERT🚨
On March 4th this male Grey seal pup was spotted on the beach in Atlantic City close to the Golden Nugget Casino parking lot. When the Stranding Technician arrived, he discovered the pup was suffering from a large open wound on the back of his head. While we don't know exactly what type of animal (terrestrial or aquatic predator) caused his injury, it is severe enough to require intervention. The injured seal was transported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center where he was admitted for medical treatment. After MMSC’s veterinarian examined his wound, a treatment plan was started to prevent infection. Both oral and topical medication has been started to battle infection, as well as pain medication to help keep him comfortable as he recovers. Despite his injury, the approximately 2-3 month old seal is in good body condition, weighing in at 52lbs. He has started eating on his own. This patient is currently resting comfortably in Tub 5 of the Quonset Hut, and is in stable but guarded condition due to the severity of his injury.
This injured seal will stay in our hospital until his wounds have healed. Seals may recover in our hospital for 6 weeks or more before they are ready to return to the wild, averaging upwards of $3,000 in expenses for each seal during their stay. THANK YOU to our amazing supporters who help make a difference in the lives of injured and sick seals!

03/06/2025

MMSC Live Patient Update 🦭 Join us on hospital rounds to hear updates on our ten patients.

Grey seal #25-002 (Atlantic City) just stopping by your timeline to let you know that there's nothing like taking a nap...
03/06/2025

Grey seal #25-002 (Atlantic City) just stopping by your timeline to let you know that there's nothing like taking a nap with a full belly on a comfy mat.💤The red rubber mats we use in the seal enclosures throughout the hospital are very important. They slightly elevate the animal above the floor of the pen, while the holes trap and drain any waste. This helps keep the recovering seals clean and dry when nature calls. THANK YOU Jill and fellow anonymous supporters who donated mats from our Amazon Wish List this week! ❤️

Good morning from the Pool House🌞We are happy to report that Grey seal #25-009 (Beach Haven) is now eating on her own, ...
03/05/2025

Good morning from the Pool House🌞We are happy to report that Grey seal #25-009 (Beach Haven) is now eating on her own, enjoying a diet of mackerel, herring and capelin. Don't mind the fish guts on her whiskers, breakfast was delicious!

On Tuesday, March 4th the Marine Mammal Stranding Center received a call for a Common dolphin stranded in a bayside cree...
03/04/2025

On Tuesday, March 4th the Marine Mammal Stranding Center received a call for a Common dolphin stranded in a bayside creek near Meadow Ave. in Monmouth Beach, NJ. The male dolphin was lying unsupported on the thick mud of the nearly dry creek bed. The MMSC Stranding Team mobilized from Brigantine, NJ as officers from the Monmouth Beach Police Department, members of the Monmouth Beach Department of Public Works (DPW), and local residents assisted in the efforts to keep the dolphin comfortable by spraying him with water.
When the Stranding Team arrived, boards were placed along the banks of the creek to allow safe access for the first responders. With the assistance of the crew and equipment from Schiavone Construction, who were working nearby, the team worked together in a coordinated effort to secure the dolphin in a stretcher. Using a forklift, the construction team safely lifted the stretcher out of the creek and to the Stranding Response Vehicle waiting nearby.
The dolphin was secured in the vehicle, and immediately transported to MMSC’s Veterinarian. Upon examination, the underweight dolphin was found to be weak and lethargic, with lesions on multiple parts of his body. Abrasions were present on the flukes and pectoral fins. The dolphin’s weakened body condition, coupled with being stuck in the mud without water to support his body weight for an unknown period of time, made the dolphin’s prognosis for survival very poor. After veterinary assessment the decision was made to humanely euthanize the animal to prevent further suffering. The dolphin was then transported to Animal Health Diagnostic Lab (NJAHDL), New Jersey Dept. of Agriculture in Trenton where the necropsy will take place. We plan to share additional updates when the necropsy results become available at the following link on our website- https://mmsc.org/current-cetacean-data
We want to extend our gratitude to the Monmouth Beach Police Department, Monmouth Beach Department of Public Works, Schiavone Construction, MMSC volunteers, and the many Good Samaritans for your assistance today. Seeing the community come together to support our team and do whatever they could to help this beautiful dolphin in his final moments was inspiring. Although the outcome for this dolphin was not what we had all hoped for, in death he will contribute to the scientific knowledge of his species and hopefully help us understand the reason for his stranding and others.
photos- Michael McKenna

Hey there! Harp seal #25-007 (Middletown) is just stopping by your timeline to say THANK YOU to all of the new follower...
03/04/2025

Hey there! Harp seal #25-007 (Middletown) is just stopping by your timeline to say THANK YOU to all of the new followers to our page, as well as to those who have been following along with us for a while! Did you know that Harp seals are born on the pack ice in the Northern Atlantic and Arctic Ocean? 🦭 Let’s hear where our followers hail from! Leave a comment below ⬇️

Did you know that a seal's coat looks very different when it is wet versus dry? Seal fur is plush, fluffy and lighter in...
03/03/2025

Did you know that a seal's coat looks very different when it is wet versus dry? Seal fur is plush, fluffy and lighter in color when dry; and sleek and darker in appearance when wet. Harp seal #25-010 (Stone Harbor) is showing off this difference as he relaxes during his dry rest time in Tub 8. 🦭

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3625 Brigantine Boulevard
Brigantine, NJ
08203

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+16092660538

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Videos

MMSC Live Patient Update 🦭Join us on hospital rounds to hear updates on our eleven patients and how seal season in New Jersey is going so far this year!

Can you guess this sound? 🔊 Listen closely, and let us know below if you guessed correctly!

Can you guess this sound? 🔊 Listen closely, and let us know below if you guessed correctly!

Two Grey seals graduated to the BIG pool today! Watch the full video on Facebook.

Look who graduated to the BIG pool! 🦭🎓 On Monday the Stranding Team moved Grey seals #25-002 (Strathmere) and #25-003 (Belmar) from the ICU into the pool. They both took their time on the deck getting familiar with their new surroundings before heading into the pool to explore every square inch of their new enclosure. The time they spend in our 30-foot exercise pool is the next step their rehabilitation journey, bringing them closer to their release back into the wild as they build up those swimming muscles. We hope you enjoy this video of the boys and their first few moments exploring their new digs!

MMSC Live Patient Update 🦭 Join us on hospital rounds to hear updates on our ten patients.

MMSC Live Patient Update 🦭 Join us in hospital rounds to hear updates on our nine patients.

MMSC Live Patient Update 🦭Join us on hospital rounds to hear updates on all six patients currently recovering at our facility!

MMSC Live Patient Update 🦭 and then there were five! Join us on hospital rounds to hear updates on all of our patients.

BREAKING NEWS 📣 The Stranding Technicians gave Grey seal #25-002 (Strathmere) a pile of snow for enrichment, and this is how it went. ❄️ #snowday

BREAKING NEWS 📣 The Stranding Technicians gave Grey seal #25-002 (Strathmere) a pile of snow for enrichment, and this is how it went. ❄️ #snowday

MMSC Live Patient Update 🦭Check in with our two patients during hospital rounds!

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Our Story

We are the only federally authorized rescue facility for sick and injured wild marine mammals and sea turtles in the State of NJ. Our museum & gift shop are open to the public where you can watch recovering animals remotely via our big-screen tv. We also hold several fun and educational programs throughout the summer for families. Our events and donations from the public are the only way that we can continue the work we do to help these fragile species.