I Found a Dead Seal on the Beach in Massachusetts—Here’s Who to Call

It's not every day that a leisurely walk on the beach leads to a call to the local police station, but that's exactly what happened to me recently in Fairhaven.

While strolling along the shores, I stumbled upon a large and unfortunately dead seal wedged in the rocks. Though it blended into the rocks, I spotted it from afar and had my kids hang back as I took a closer look. I wasn't sure what I was about to walk into or what condition the seal would be in.

Luckily, not a gruesome sight.

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The seal was belly-up with a few flies hovering above. Clearly it had been there for some time. Knowing that there was nothing to be done in terms of saving the animal, I wanted to make sure it was removed from the beach.

READ MORE: 18 Rescued Sea Turtles Released into the Ocean After Rehab

What to Do If You Find a Dead Seal

So who do you call if/when you encounter a dead seal on the beach? Honestly, I wasn't sure, so I made the call to the Fairhaven Police Department.

The dispatcher informed me that the seal had been reported the night before. She was extremely nice and helpful during the call and let me know that I was welcome to call again if I ever encounter a similar sight. They would relay the message to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The IFAW is a global non-profit with a location in Yarmouth Port, MA. The number I was connected to was for the Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline.

I asked Michaela Wellman from the Marine Mammal Rescue Team what to do if you encounter a similar situation like mine.

Why You Should Never Touch Marine Mammals

"We recommend not touching it. It's illegal, actually. They're protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act," Wellman said. "But they are mammals, so we do share germs."

"If you have pets, leash them and don't let your pets go near them because they can get whatever germs they have as well," she said.

How the Marine Mammal Rescue Team Responds

Pictures of the animals can also help the rescue team. "We always ask if they took photos, if they could send them or if they're still there, if they're able to take photos," Wellman said.

READ MORE: New Bedford Seal Spotted Relaxing on Beach [VIDEO]

Why Photos Help Marine Rescue Experts

"We can get a lot of information from a photo and then depending on what we see in the photo, it will confirm if it's a new animal or if it's one we've already responded to," Wellman said. "So at the very least, we like to get out and get really basic information on it."

The teams gathers information such as length and sex while also conducting an external exam. "Depending on what species and what we see in those photos, we might collect the animal and bring it back and do a full internal exam," she said.

Who to Call on the SouthCoast

If you stumble upon any seals, whales, dolphins or porpoises on the SouthCoast, contact Michaela Wellman and the Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (508) 743-9548. "Someone will answer and direct you from there," Wellman said.