Wildlife / On the coast
Sea turtles & marine mammals.
If you're on a Texas beach and find a sea turtle, dolphin, or whale that's stranded, hurt, or dead - look, photograph, but do not touch. These are federally protected, and only trained, permitted responders may handle them. Your job is to report it fast.
Sea turtles
Five sea turtle species swim the Gulf off Texas - Kemp's ridley, green, loggerhead, hawksbill, and leatherback - and all are protected as threatened or endangered. The Kemp's ridley is the world's most endangered sea turtle, and it nests on South Texas beaches like Padre Island.
Dolphins & whales
Dolphins and whales are protected under federal law too. Never push a stranded one back into the water or crowd it - report it and let trained responders come.
Cold-stunned turtles: When the weather turns cold, sea turtles can get 'cold-stunned' and wash up immobilized. Don't push one back into the water and don't try to warm it yourself - rapid warming can kill it. Trained responders warm them gradually.
The numbers to call
Marine mammals (Texas coast)
1-800-962-6625The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 1-800-9-MAMMAL.
Keep going
Official sources
Sea turtles and marine mammals are federally protected (ESA and the Marine Mammal Protection Act). NOAA Fisheries and the Texas stranding networks coordinate the trained responders.
- Data vintage:
- Coastal wildlife rules as reviewed June 2026
- Last reviewed:
- June 15, 2026
- NOAA Fisheries - Report a Stranding - Federal marine-life reporting
- TPWD - Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
- Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Caution: Handling a protected marine animal is illegal for the public, even to help. Report it and let trained responders take over.