One question we commonly hear is "when is stranding season"? The answer depends on the species in question. Strandings occur throughout the year, although strandings in our region follow a basic annual pattern.

Yearly Stranding Trends

Spring

  • Harbor porpoises, harbor seal pups
  • Dolphins (mass strandings likely)

Summer

  • Juvenile harbor seals
  • Entangled leatherback sea turtles
  • Occasional porpoises, dolphins, large whales

Fall

  • Juvenile and adult harbor, gray, harp and hooded seals
  • Dolphins, occasional whales
  • Cold stunned sea turtles

Winter

  • Cold stunned sea turtles
  • Juvenile and adult harp, hooded and gray seals
  • Harbor porpoises
  • Mass-stranded dolphins, including pilot whales