Nearly 90% of the strandings we attend are handled in-situ. This includes live and dead strandings of marine mammals, sea turtles, and whale sharks. Taking care of these animals in their environment reduces stress and the chance of them  restranding. Large whales can only be aided in the field. 

35 species of marine mammals are present in our water. Many migrate here seasonally, some entangled in fishing gear picked up in along the U.S. Pacific coast, Alaska, or Canada, some bearing fin tags from a prior rescue outside of Mexico. ​These animals know no borders and are the exact same individuals you might observe at home. 

Grey whales and Humpbacks migrate to our lagoons and bays to mate and calve each winter. The same individuals will travel roughly 5000 miles one-way to their summer feeding grounds in Alaska and Canada. These world famous breeding grounds are an ideal place to observe and study these populations. 

Each year roughly 10-12% of the strandings we attend result in an animal being admitted to our facility for acute treatment and rehabilitative care. Each patient is given our priority with the ultimate goal being their complete recovery and their reintroduction to the wild, healthy and free!