Marine Mammal Center in Marin County urges human behavior change amid spike in rescue

Highlighting hundreds of cases of marine mammals admitted for emergency care, the Marine Mammal Center is calling on beachgoers to keep their distance, keep their dogs leashed and call the professionals if they see an animal in distress. 

Based in Marin County, the Marine Mammal Center is the world’s largest hospital for marine mammals, and the center’s Electronic Animal Record System team has gathered data for the last two years that shows an alarming trend. The team reported humans and dogs to be a contributing factor in more than 200 cases of marine mammal rescues last year, accounting for 30 percent of all patients admitted — up from 26 percent in 2022.