Marine Mammals of the U.S. West Coast
10 METER 0 10 FEET
adult male Resident Killer Whale Orcinus orca subsp. Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus
adult female
Bigg’s (transient) Killer Whale Orcinus orca subsp. Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus
Offshore Killer Whale Orcinus orca Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis
Bryde’s Whale Balaenoptera edeni
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Baird’s Beaked Whale Berardius bairdii
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Minke Whale Ziphius cavirostris Balaenoptera acutorostrata North Pacific Right Whale Eubalaena japonica
Stejneger’s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon stejnegeri
Hubbs’ Beaked Whale Gray Whale Humpback Whale Mesoplodon carlhubbsi Eschrichtius robustus Megaptera novaeangliae
120ºW Perrin’s Beaked Whale Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Mesoplodon perinni Washington In 1972, Congress enacted the NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are Oregon United the lead federal agencies for enforcing this law to protect Design and illustrations: Uko Gorter (www.ukogorter.com) States MMPA, establishing a national PACIFIC marine mammals. The MMPA protects all whales, dolphins, 40ºN OCEAN California policy to help prevent the seals, sea lions, porpoises, manatees, polar bears, otters, extinction or depletion of and walruses from human-induced harm. In the United West Coast Region States, NOAA Fisheries works with scientists, industry, and Northwest Fisheries Science Center marine mammal populations conservation groups to develop measures that help to protect Southwest Fisheries Science Center US West Coast from human activities. marine mammals from entanglement, ship strike, and other activities that might cause these animals harm. TO REPORT STRANDED, INJURED, OR DEAD MARINE MAMMALS, CALL THE NOAA FISHERIES WEST COAST MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK HOTLINE: 1-866-767-6114 Marine Mammals of the U.S. West Coast You can help protect marine mammals! adult male Seeing marine wildlife in their natural environment can be a Harbor Porpoise thrilling experience. In our excitement, we sometimes forget Phocoena phocoena Northern Elephant Seal that our presence has an effect on wildlife and their habitat. adult female Mirounga angustirostris adult male
Set an example for others, and help protect our spectacular Dall’s Porpoise calf Phocoenoides dalli marine resources. Northern Right Whale Dolphin pup adult female Lissodelphis borealis Admire from a distance, give animals space! adult variation
Do not approach closer than 100 yards to any whale, dolphin, Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina or porpoise. For orcas in WA stay 200 yards away. adult male Pacific White-sided Dolphin Striped Dolphin adult female pup Slow down and operate at a no-wake speed. Lagenorhynchus obliquidens Stenella coeruleoalba
Keep clear of the whales’ path! adult variation
Share the shore with seals and sea lions! pup Give animals space and limit noise. Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus Keep people and pets away. Marine mammals can carry Long-beaked Common Dolphin Short-beaked Common Dolphin diseases that are transmittable to pets and humans. Delphinus capensis Delphinus delphis adult female Pay attention and move away at the first sign of disturbance Sea Otter adult male Enhydra lutris Guadalupe Fur Seal pup or agitation. Arctocephalus philippii townsendi Call our Hotlines Report a dead, injured or stranded marine mammal at: Bottlenose dolphin Risso’s Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Grampus griseus Steller or Northern Sea Lion 1-866-767-6114 Eumetopias jubatus
Call law enforcement if you see a harassment or a violation: adult male 1-800-853-1964 adult female For entangled marine mammals, please call 1-877-SOS-WHALe or 1-877-767-9425 or hail the U.S. Coast Guard on Ch. 16 pup Report derelict gear, please call 1-855-542-3935 False Killer Whale Pseudorca crassidens Learn more California Sea Lion Zalophus californianus http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/ adult female adult male https://swfsc.noaa.gov/ http://www.bewhalewise.org/
Download: Dolphin & Whale 911 app Short-finned Pilot Whale pup (for Android and iPhone) Globicephala macrorhynchus
Pygmy Sperm Whale Kogia breviceps
Dwarf Sperm Whale 0 5 METER Design and illustrations: Uko Gorter (www.ukogorter.com) Kogia sima 10 FEET TO REPORT STRANDED, INJURED, OR DEAD MARINE MAMMALS, CALL THE NOAA FISHERIES WEST COAST MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK HOTLINE: 1-866-767-6114