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SSC Marine Mammal Rescue

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Rye, NH
SSC Marine Mammal Rescue

Responding to live and dead marine mammals in NH and northern MA since 2014! Seals will haul out onto shore to sleep, nurse, or to soak up the sun.

All marine mammals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, enacted by the federal government on October 21, 1972. Fulfilling this requirement, the Center's Marine Mammal Rescue Team staffs a 24/7 hotline (603-997-9448) and deploys first responders. Collaborating with network partners and subcontractors, the Center leads the responses and rescues. Seals in need of rehabilitative care are

transported to partners at National Marine Life Center or Marine Mammals of Maine. Deceased animals that are recently deceased are transported to the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory at University of New Hampshire. What should you do if you spot a seal or other marine mammal on a beach?
• Watch quietly from at least 150 feet away
• Keep dogs away from the animal
• Do not offer the animal food or water
• Do not pour water on the animal
• Do not cover the animal with a towel or blanket
• Do not try to move the animal
• Call 603-997-9448 and report the animal’s location, size, coloring, and behavior

Unlike whales or dolphins, seals are semi-aquatic and are comfortable out of the water. But they will also haul out when sick or injured. Seals are cute, but they are wild animals and should not be disturbed. By getting too close, you disturb the seal and could provoke it to bite. It is illegal to disturb any marine mammal. People who harass or disturb them are subject to civil and criminal penalties. Why is it important to respond to every seal that hauls out onto a beach or stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise?
• To protect the public’s health and safety by properly managing sick or dead animals
• To protect the health of stranded animals by reducing harmful human interactions
• To advance marine mammal biology and ecology research by maintaining continuous data flow into the national database

05/15/2026

PSA : It’s Harbor Seal Pupping Season! 🦭

Harbor seals are typically born between April and June and stay with their mothers for about one month before weaning. During this critical time, moms and pups require quiet space and uninterrupted rest so the pups can safely feed and grow.

It is completely normal to see a seal pup alone on the beach as mothers often leave their pups temporarily while they forage for food. However, as warmer weather brings more people and boats around the beaches, human disturbances can unfortunately separate mothers and pups for longer than anticipated if the mother senses danger. By giving harbor seals the space they need, we can help ensure these seals stay safe and healthy this pupping season.

If you see a seal on the beach, we strongly encourage everyone to:
- Keep at least 150 feet (half of a football field) away from seals on shore and in the water
- Keep dogs leashed and away from seals
- Avoid pouring water on the animal
- Avoid offering food or water to the animal
- Avoid covering the animal with a towel or blanket
- Avoid moving the animal
- Call our hotline at 603-997-9448 and report the animal’s location, size, coloring, and behavior
- Share the shoreline responsibly so these animals can thrive

05/08/2026

Despite the rain, there were still lots of smiles along our shore at last weekend's 17th Annual Rescue Run held at Odiorne Point State Park. We are incredibly grateful for our amazing SSC community, who helped make this race day truly memorable! 😁

On Saturday, May 2nd, 565 runners and walkers participated in our 5k along the Park’s trails, raising awareness and funds for SSC Marine Mammal Rescue. 🦭 This included 487 in the 5K and 78 in the Kids Fun Run. We capped off the day handing out raffle prizes to runners and attendees, thanks to the generosity of many local businesses and organizations! Plus, we were joined by Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation for a beach cleanup. Read more about the 5k, including this year’s results, here https://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/2026/05/02/seacoast-science-centers-rescue-run-race-for-marine-mammals-annual-5k-results

Congratulations to the runners and walkers! Thomas Jarvela, 41, and Katie Edwards, 35, were the overall male and female winners, finishing in 19:13 and 20:47, respectively. 🏃🏃‍♀️

Special thanks to presenting sponsor Meredith Village Savings Bank for their support, for running with us, and helping congratulate our winners; as well as supporting sponsors New Hampshire State Parks, Portsmouth Scuba, and in-kind supporters Atlantic Grill, Blue Dolphin Screenprint and Embroidery, Centrus Digital, and Stonyfield. Plus, our incredible staff and volunteers who helped prepare and on race day, and the many local businesses and organizations that generously supported our run with food and raffle prize donations. 🫶

A special shout out to Ron Watson Photography, Volunteer and UNH Marine Docent Tom Greene, and Katrina Brothers Photography for helping us capture the day. 📸

04/27/2026

Happy Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) Day!

Today we’re recognizing and celebrating the people behind our MMR Program! The work of our staff, volunteers, veterinarians, and local partners goes beyond response alone; they are committed to protecting these animals and safeguarding our coastal communities for the future. We’re grateful for their dedication today and everyday!

Want to show your support for the team? Sign up now for our Rescue Run: Race for Marine Mammals on Saturday, May 2nd at 9am! Choose from a 5K trail run or walk, kids’ fun runs, or join us for a beach cleanup with our partners from Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. All proceeds from the event support the SSC Marine Mammal Rescue Program.

Click the link below or visit our website to register today!

https://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/events-overview/rescue-run-race-for-marine-mammals/

04/10/2026

WELCOME AMELIA TO THE SSC MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE TEAM! 🎉

We’re excited to officially introduce our new Stranding Response Technician, Amelia Taggart! After joining us as a Marine Mammal Rescue intern this past summer, Amelia came on board full-time in February, and we couldn’t be happier to have her on the team.

We’re looking forward to all the incredible work she’ll contribute to future rescue responses and our upcoming summer programs. Welcome, Amelia we’re so glad you’re here! 🦭💙

04/07/2026

Really exciting news in Cape Cod Bay! During aerial surveys, Center for Coastal Studies has spotted North Atlantic Right Whale mother-calf pairs! This year 23 new calves have been documented, the highest total recorded in over a decade. 🐋

03/22/2026

Happy International Day of the Seal! 🦭

Did you know that 90% of the cases our Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) Team responds to are seals? That’s a lot of seals! There are 33 species of seals in the world, and 4 of them can be found right here in the Gulf of Maine. Our year-round inhabitants are the harbor seal and gray seal, but in the winter months harp seals and hooded seals migrate down from the Arctic to join the party!

Seals are one of the few marine mammal species that regularly spend time on land to escape predators, rest, thermoregulate, mate, and pup (give birth to baby seals). It is completely normal to see seals out of the water, and they should always be given plenty of space so they can safely carry out these important behaviors. If you see a seal along the coast between the Maine–New Hampshire border and Beverly, Massachusetts, please give our MMR Team a call at 603-997-9448. Regardless of how the seal may look, our team can help determine whether the animal needs assistance. Located outside our territory? Call one of the other hotline numbers shown in the Whale and Dolphin Conservation graphic! Thank you for doing your part to help conserve these species for generations to come!

Interested in Learning More? Join Seacoast Science Center’s Marine Mammal Rescue Team at one of our outreach programs, like our seal walks shown in this photo, to safely check out our New England seal species! 🦭

03/10/2026

Happy March everyone! 🌸

To start off our 2026 season we have been seeing harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), also known as our Arctic seal visitors, along our shoreline 🦭 We have responded to six animals so far, with calls in Newbury twice, Newburyport, Ipswich, Manchester by the Sea, and Marblehead where we assisted NOAA Fisheries.

In all the cases, our team monitored the seals for signs of stress or injuries and made sure they had plenty of space to rest. With all the recent snowfall, these seals have been able to eat the snow for hydration. We are happy to share that all of the seals we monitored and safely returned to the ocean.

A big thank you to our Marine Mammal Rescue volunteers who braved some very cold temperatures to help protect these animals. We would also like to thank Manchester by the Sea Animal Control (Manchester by the Sea Police Department (Official) for their assistance at Singing Beach, where there was a high level of human interaction. Their support helped the public keep a safe distance so the seal could rest before heading back out to sea.

Fun fact, we use the unique spot patterns on harp seals to help identify and track individuals. With so many seals being spotted ... we use the spots to make sure we are not double counting individuals. Unlike gray and harbor seals, juvenile harp seals have very dark and distinct spots, which makes them easier to compare in photos.

02/25/2026

🦭 How Many Seals Can You Spot? Gather your family and friends and find out! Join our Marine Mammal Rescue team for a wildlife adventure to observe seals in their natural habitat! Don't miss out—our Seal Walk program runs through April 2026. 🦭

Seal Walks offer a fantastic opportunity to get outside and learn about marine wildlife, particularly local seal species that haul out along the Merrimack River, while meeting our Marine Mammal Rescue team and learning about their conservation efforts.

The program takes place at Salisbury Beach State Reservation and Half Tide Rocks in Newburyport, MA, accessible via the Clipper City Rail Trail. Our next walks are scheduled for Saturday, February 28th, and Sunday, March 1st. For all the details, including additional dates, location information, directions, and tickets, please visit http://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/seal-walks.

We look forward to sharing our beautiful coastline and these charming seals with you! 🦭

02/16/2026

Join our Manager of Marine Mammal Rescue, Lauren McDowell, this week for the Bayview Lecture Series taking place on Wednesday, February 18th at 2pm, hosted by Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. She’ll share what’s happening with marine mammals in the team’s response territory which covers from the New Hampshire-Maine border to Beverly, MA. She’ll introduce the marine mammal rescue program, discuss the trends and changes rescue teams are seeing, and share how community members can help protect these incredible species, including seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises. Learn more and plan to attend at www.greatbay.org

Seacoast Science Center

02/10/2026

🦭💕 Looking for a fun activity to share with your Valentine? Join our SSC Marine Mammal Rescue team for a special Valentine's Day Weekend Seal Walk at Salisbury Beach State Reservation. Scheduled for February 14th at 1:30 pm and February 15th at 2 pm, this program offers participants the chance to learn about local marine life, especially the seals that inhabit our waters, guided by our knowledgeable experts. You will stroll along the shore and enjoy the coastal scenery while observing seals and gaining insights into conservation efforts aimed at protecting them. This experience is perfect for couples, families, friends, and nature enthusiasts, promising an unforgettable time filled with learning and love for our ocean’s inhabitants. If you can't make it this weekend, don’t worry! Seal Walks continue through April. Be sure to check the full schedule by visiting https://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/seal-walks. 🦭🌊

(Music from Canva: Poetry Music–Calm Piano Love Romantic Background Intro Theme)

Address

570 Ocean Boulevard
Rye, NH
03870

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+16034368043

Website

http://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/

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