10/10/2026
On the morning of October 7, 2026, members of the public reported two live stranded juvenile humpback whales to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. The whales are offshore of Fire Island National Seashore in New York.
At this time, responders are working on plans to provide supportive care and assess the whales’ health. Responders and law enforcement are on site and will continue to monitor the whales.
There are also several other humpback whales in the area, which are also being monitored.
We ask members of the public to keep a safe distance from these whales on land, in the water, and by air. If the whales are unable to refloat with the next high tide, we will reassess and consider all available options.
We appreciate the support and coordination of our partners, including:
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Village Of Saltaire
Fire Island National Seashore
NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic
We will provide further updates as they are available.
All dolphins, porpoises, and whales are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes touching, feeding, or otherwise harming these animals illegal. The best way to assist these animals, and keep them and yourself safe, is by calling trained responders and maintaining a 150-foot distance. To report strandings of marine mammals and sea turtles in NYS, call the NYS Stranding Hotline: 631-369-9829. To report strandings of marine mammals and sea turtles in the northeast, call NOAA’s stranding hotline to be directed to a trained responder in your area: 866-755-6622.
Photo credit: National Parks Service
