UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program

Home
United States
Wilmington, NC
UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program

To report a live or dead stranded marine mammal in southeastern North Carolina, call 910-515-7354.

04/15/2026

Registration for the Southeast & Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium at UNCW is STILL OPEN! Register today! ⭐️ 🐋

SEAMAMMS is a regional scientific marine mammal meeting and is very student-oriented. This conference spotlights marine mammal research conducted in the mid-Atlantic and southeast US.

Scan the QR code to visit the website and learn more!

01/29/2026

In place of departmental seminar tomorrow, join us for a special showing of Saving the North Pacific Right Whale: The World’s Rarest Whale. Hope to see you there! 🐋

01/26/2026

Meet the mysterious goose-beaked whale! With a sloping “goose-like” head and sleek body, this deep-diving species primarily hunts squid and octopus using suction feeding! Males sport lower teeth for sparring, while females give birth to a calf every 2-3 years. Despite protections, they still face threats from entanglement and hunting.

ocean conservation marine science species spotlight

01/19/2026

Fluffy, fast-growing, and full of energy (and cuteness)…meet the harp seal! Pups are born with their snowy “white coat” and can triple their weight in just two weeks before their gray juvenile fur grows in. Adults rock a silver-gray coat with bold, harp-shaped markings, feasting on 10-20lbs of fish per DAY!

ocean conservation marine science species spotlight arctic wildlife

01/14/2026

For this week’s spotlight, meet the s***m whale—the LARGEST toothed whale, and one of the ocean’s extreme divers. Their massive, block-shaped heads house the s***maceti organ, which plays a role in echolocation, helping them navigate and hunt in the depths. Another fun fact: their clicks are the LOUDEST biological sounds on Earth! 👀

***mwhale stem ocean conservation marine science species spotlight odontocetes

01/05/2026

Often referred to as the “greyhounds of the sea”, fin whales are built for speed. With sleek, streamlined bodies and powerful tails, they are capable of reaching speeds up to 25mph!

As the second-largest whale species on Earth, fin whales travel vast distances between their feeding/breeding grounds and like other cetaceans, play important roles in marine ecosystems. While populations were impacted by commercial whaling, today they face threats such as vessel strikes, entanglement, and climate change.

ocean conservation marine science species spotlight

12/29/2025

For this week’s spotlight, meet the sei whale! 🐳 These long-lived marine mammals are found in temperate, sub-tropical and polar waters around the world. 🗺️ Swipe through to learn more!

whales sei whales marine megafauna wilmington nc uncw unc wilmington

12/07/2025

This week, we have a special Species Spotlight: the extinct Caribbean monk seal. Once found throughout the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean monk seal was officially declared extinct in 2008. Their story is a powerful reminder of why conservation matters now more than ever. 🦭❤️‍🩹

12/05/2025

Wishing all of our students the very best luck on their final exams! As you wrap up your semester, we hope you all find moments of calm, focus, and confidence. 🫶

From all of us at the UNCW MMSP, have a restful and safe winter break. You’ve earned it!! 💙❄️🦭

12/02/2025

Today is Giving Tuesday, and your support goes straight towards creating transformative learning experiences for UNCW students (as shown above, where our summer 2025 interns and colleagues completed a necropsy, or animal autopsy, investigation on a dolphin). Donations help fund gear, internships, training, and field opportunities allowing UNCW graduate and undergraduate students to gain real-world experience responding to marine mammal strandings. These moments- working alongside professionals in the field, contributing to data collection, and making an impact in marine mammal conservation- shape their careers in marine biology.

Your gift strengthens our program, and helps build the next generation of marine mammal responders. Thank YOU for supporting our program, our students, and our efforts that protect marine life along our coast. 💙

11/25/2025

Happy holidays from the UNCW MMSP and all of our pets!! Who’s your fav? 👀

Make sure to take time for self-care, spending time with loved ones, and enjoy some yummy food. We’re whale-y thankful for each of you and your constant support! 💙🐋

Address

Wilmington, NC

Telephone

+19105157354

Website

https://uncw.edu/research/major-programs/marine-mammal-stranding/, https://linktr.ee/uncw.mmsp

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Wilmington?