Contact Us Questions? City Departments City Council Calendar Request a City Service Jobs

Report Beached or Troubled Marine Life

Seagull in the Surf

Marine Life
To report beached or troubled marine life contact the Virginia Marine Science Museum Stranding Center at (757) 437-6159 or pager # (which is manned all the time) at (757) 664-2755. Contact them for whales, dolphins, and porpoises- dead or alive.
Do not more or do anything to the animal until you talk directly to the Stranding Center.
There are two laws, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Law that have hefty fines for tampering with marine animals, dead or alive.

Sea Turtles
For live or dead sea turtles (not snapping turtles), contact the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Sea Turtle Stranding Center at 1-804-684-7313. After hours, page them at 1-804-684-6197.

Sea Turtles
For injured birds such as sea gulls, egrets, and pelicans, call the SPCA at (757) 595-1399 or the Wildlife Response Center at (757) 543-7000 (they will not come pick it up) or you can take the animal to the Todds Lane Veterinary Hospital, (757) 826-7602 or James River Veterinary Hospital, (757) 595-5505. If the animal is dead, call the CITY of HAMPTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT at (757) 850-5116 for disposal.