November 2024

As the marine mammal stranding season begins, the staff of Jennette’s Pier is perhaps the best equipped it’s ever been to respond, reports Director Mike Remige.

A new coordinator, Marina Doshkov, has recently come on board full-time thanks to a Prescott Grant. She serves as the primary contact for strandings in the five beach towns covering 30 miles from Duck to Nags Head.

“We are made up of local volunteers and multiple state and federal agencies that are dedicated to responding to stranded, entangled or injured marine mammals,” Marina said. “If you would like to volunteer, contact us.” 

When calls come into the Outer Banks Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline at 252-455-9654, Doshkov activates response teams. A brand new Ford F-350 four-wheel drive gets personnel, equipment and materials to the beach and occasional soundside strandings.

Often, deceased animals are transported to National Park Service freezers near Bodie Island. They are studied by scientists to try and determine the cause of death and to gather additional data.

In mid-October, Marina monitored a group of manatees who were feeding in protected canal waters while slowly making their way south back to Florida. She kept in touch with wildlife service officers there to keep them apprised of these gentle giants’ journey home.

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