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.

Wishing you Peace on Earth and in the Sea ❤️🌊✨
12/25/2024

Wishing you Peace on Earth and in the Sea ❤️🌊✨

12/24/2024

Did you know Santa has marine mammal and sea turtle helpers? Gather the kids and join us for a very special aquatic version of The Night Before Christmas, as narrated by our merry Stranding Team! 🦭🐬🐢🐋

Did you know that Santa has marine mammal and sea turtle helpers? Gather the kids and join us tonight for our annual rea...
12/24/2024

Did you know that Santa has marine mammal and sea turtle helpers? Gather the kids and join us tonight for our annual reading of "The Night Before Christmas at MMSC" -airing at 5pm right here on Facebook!

The beach in the winter is certainly a magical place! ❄ As you enjoy walking the beach during the holiday break, please ...
12/23/2024

The beach in the winter is certainly a magical place! ❄ As you enjoy walking the beach during the holiday break, please keep an eye out for seals and sea turtles. Seals belong on our beaches this time of year, and need to be left alone to rest. Remember your seal etiquette and keep people and pets at least 150 feet away from seals, and do not share their location on social media. Sea turtles DO NOT belong in NJ at this time of year, and may be suffering from cold-stunning. Please IMMEDIATELY give us a call if you spot a seal or sea turtle, and our Stranding Team will assess the animal. Save our 24-hour hotline in your phone 609-266-0538 so you have it handy, remember we are on call and ready to respond to animal calls 365 days a year. Thank you for caring so much about the animals- Happy Holidays! ❄

Hello, Winter. ❄️❄️❄️
12/21/2024

Hello, Winter. ❄️❄️❄️

North Pole countdown bonus species! ❄️While narwhals have never been seen in New Jersey, we couldn't let our countdown e...
12/20/2024

North Pole countdown bonus species! ❄️
While narwhals have never been seen in New Jersey, we couldn't let our countdown end without sharing this iconic North Pole species with you! Known as the unicorn of the sea, narwhals are only found in the Arctic Circle. Reaching up to ten feet in length, the distinctive tusk of the male narwhal is actually an elongated canine tooth protruding from the left side of the jaw in a helix spiral. Although rare, about 15% of female narwhals will also develop tusks. Narwhal tusks are highly-sensitive, containing millions of nerve endings. Researchers believe that the rubbing together of tusks is a way for the males to communicate information and establish hierarchy, and observations also indicate that narwhals use their tusks to stun prey.
photo 📷 NOAA

North Pole patient countdown! ❄ In January 1990, we cared for a very unusual patient, an Arctic ringed seal, pictured he...
12/19/2024

North Pole patient countdown! ❄
In January 1990, we cared for a very unusual patient, an Arctic ringed seal, pictured here with MMSC Director Bob Schoelkopf. Ringed seals are the smallest and most abundant of the Arctic seal species, getting their name from light ring markings on their back. Arctic ringed seals are circumpolar, rarely straying beyond ice-covered waters, and are the primary prey of polar bears. Mothers will give birth and nurse their pups in snow-covered lairs for protection. This yearling female is one of only two that have stranded in New Jersey, the second coming ashore deceased later that same month. When she was ready to be released, longtime MMSC supporter Bill Kindle donated the use of his private plane, flying Bob and the beautiful seal to Cape Cod for her return to the wild. ❄

UPDATED Winter Hours ❄❄❄MMSC's Sea Life Museum will be open this Friday (5pm-7pm) and Saturday (10am-2pm & 5pm-7pm) for...
12/19/2024

UPDATED Winter Hours ❄❄❄

MMSC's Sea Life Museum will be open this Friday (5pm-7pm) and Saturday (10am-2pm & 5pm-7pm) for your last minute shopping needs before the holiday!

Remember as always, we will still be responding to strandings 24 hours/day seven days a week. Our hotline is (609) 266-0538, please keep it handy should you come across a marine mammal or sea turtle. Thank you!

Holiday shopping update from the elves at MMSC! 🎄Reminder-- the last day to place an online order for in-store pickup is...
12/18/2024

Holiday shopping update from the elves at MMSC! 🎄Reminder-- the last day to place an online order for in-store pickup is tomorrow (December 19th by noon)! Saturday December 21st is the last day before the holiday to shop or pick up online orders in our Sea Life Museum here in Brigantine. 🎁 Visit our online store today! https://mmsc.org/online-store

North Pole patient countdown! ❄Harp seals are one of the Arctic's most iconic species. MMSC has responded to 542 of thes...
12/18/2024

North Pole patient countdown! ❄
Harp seals are one of the Arctic's most iconic species. MMSC has responded to 542 of these normally ice-pack dwelling seals since 1978. Harp seals will often consume snow and ice for fresh water, causing gastric impaction issues when they strand on our beaches and confuse the sand for snow. When harp seals are admitted to the MMSC, we supply them with piles of ice to assist in their hydration and for their comfort.
Harp seal pups are born with a coat that is completely snow white (lanugo). In April of 2010, we responded to a very special stranding- a newborn harp seal still covered in his white lanugo. Harp seals only have a pure white coat for about two weeks, making it very likely that this pup was born in our area, far away from the ice floes in Canadian waters where they are typically born. The pup spent two months under our care, growing to a healthy weight of 60lbs and molting into his juvenile coat, before being released in Rhode Island in June of 2010. ❄

North Pole visitors countdown! ❄On April 4, 2005, people along the banks of the Delaware River in Bordentown, NJ could n...
12/17/2024

North Pole visitors countdown! ❄
On April 4, 2005, people along the banks of the Delaware River in Bordentown, NJ could not believe their eyes as a beautiful white whale swam past them! While normally found in the Arctic Ocean, Beluga whales have been known to occasionally travel out of range. MMSC staff, veterinarians and representatives from NOAA assessed the free-swimming whale and kept a watchful eye as it successfully evaded boat traffic in the river. Word soon spread about the Arctic visitor, and people lined both sides of the river for days, hoping to catch a glimpse of the whale. The Beluga was repeatedly sighted near Trenton, Bordentown and Burlington over the next week, last sighted on April 11, 2005, heading downriver 10 miles south of Philadelphia. This was not the first time that the MMSC has responded to a Beluga whale in New Jersey. In 1978, a Beluga whale was observed following boats in and out of Townsends Inlet in Sea Isle City. The whale frequented the inlet during the span of two weeks, before leaving to continue on with his travels. ❄

As a thank you to our wonderful community, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center and the Brigantine Historical Museum are t...
12/17/2024

As a thank you to our wonderful community, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center and the Brigantine Historical Museum are thrilled to host a FREE two-night event with a walkable labyrinth and open doors to our museums! Come by on Friday December 20th & Saturday December 21st between 5pm and 7pm for TWO nights of holiday shopping and a pre-holiday destress labyrinth walk! We know holiday preparation can be stressful, so to make this season a little easier for our dedicated supporters, the MMSC and the BHM are happy to open our museums while you grab some last-minute gifts and explore our backyard labyrinth and the benefits of walking one. Admission is free, but donations are always welcome. We are truly thankful for the support of our community over the years, and we want to give back to all of you in a meaningful way. We hope you join us for this unique experience and community gathering.

North Pole patient countdown! ❄MMSC has responded to 67 Hooded seal strandings since 1978. These Arctic natives are rare...
12/16/2024

North Pole patient countdown! ❄
MMSC has responded to 67 Hooded seal strandings since 1978. These Arctic natives are rare visitors to New Jersey, with the last reported stranding of this species occurring in 2008. They are named for the male's dark forehead "hood" and red nasal sack that are inflated to startle rivals and predators. Hooded seals are known for having the shortest nursing period of any mammal- less than 4 days! The pups are nursed with milk containing 60-70% fat, the highest reported fat content for any mammal. This allows the pup to gain over 15lbs EVERY DAY, and by day four DOUBLE their birth weight of 50lbs to over 100lbs! As the pup gains weight, the mother loses about 20lbs per day while staying on land, not eating herself in order to nurse and protect her infant. This incredible transfer of energy to her offspring increases its chances of survival in the harsh Arctic environment. ❄

Looking for a unique gift for someone special on your list? Give tickets to MMSC's "Brunch for a Porpoise" at the Histor...
12/16/2024

Looking for a unique gift for someone special on your list? Give tickets to MMSC's "Brunch for a Porpoise" at the Historic Smithville Inn! Join us on Sunday March 9th to enjoy a delicious brunch buffet with unlimited mimosas, live music, basket auction, 50/50 and a virtual visit to our rehabilitation hospital to meet our current patients. Includes a special commemorative gift for each attendee! For more information and tickets please visit the following link- https://www.classy.org/event/2025-brunch-for-a-porpoise/e624057

As you enjoy your walks on the beach this winter, remember to save MMSC's 24-hour Stranding Hotline in your phone (609-2...
12/14/2024

As you enjoy your walks on the beach this winter, remember to save MMSC's 24-hour Stranding Hotline in your phone (609-266-0538). We are on call and ready to respond to animal calls 365 days a year. Seals belong on our beaches this time of year, and need to be left alone to rest. Remember your seal etiquette and keep people and pets at least 150 feet away from seals, and do not share their location on social media. Sea turtles DO NOT belong in NJ at this time of year, and may be suffering from cold-stunning. Please IMMEDIATELY give us a call if you spot a seal or sea turtle, and our Stranding Team will assess the animal. Please share this post with others to increase awareness of our 24-hour Stranding Hotline. Thank you!

We've helped many of Santa's seal "helpers" from the North Pole over the past 46 years, including 542 Harp seals, 67 Hoo...
12/13/2024

We've helped many of Santa's seal "helpers" from the North Pole over the past 46 years, including 542 Harp seals, 67 Hooded seals and 2 Ringed seals. Learn about these really "cool" species and more next week during our North Pole Patient Countdown! This adorable graphic is shared from our friends at Peppermint Narwhal Creative! 🦭

Holiday shipping update from the elves at MMSC! 🎄Reminder that tomorrow is the last day to place orders for shipping Sea...
12/12/2024

Holiday shipping update from the elves at MMSC! 🎄Reminder that tomorrow is the last day to place orders for shipping Seal Adoptions and anything else in our online store (Friday December 13th by noon)! This will give us enough time to fulfill your orders and get them shipped out in time for the holidays.
In-store pickup may also be arranged for Saturday December 14th, 20th & 21st. The last date to place an order for in-store pickup is December 19th by noon. 🎁 Visit our online store today! https://mmsc.org/online-store

Orcas, also known as killer whales, are a species of toothed whale (odontocetes) and are the largest member of the ocean...
12/11/2024

Orcas, also known as killer whales, are a species of toothed whale (odontocetes) and are the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. Orcas are found in every ocean, including parts of the Atlantic, where they are typically found in the far north or in pelagic waters far offshore. However, two orca whale strandings have been documented in New Jersey, both before the existence of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. According to a paper by Frederick Ulmer, Jr published in 1960 in "New Jersey Nature News", the first orca stranded in Barnegat, NJ in 1909. A second orca came ashore in Wildwood Crest, NJ in 1941. In more recent years, there have been rare sightings of orcas reported in New England, Virginia, the Carolinas and even Florida!
📸 NOAA

Address

3625 Brigantine Boulevard
Brigantine, NJ
08203

Telephone

+16092660538

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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.