Wildlife Rescue Numbers on Martha’s Vineyard
Wildlife on Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard combines barrier beaches, dunes, salt marshes, coastal ponds, scrub oak, grasslands and mixed woodland. That mix creates frequent overlap between people and wildlife, especially around beach access points, roadsides, yards, ponds and harbor edges. Common calls involve shorebirds, gulls, terns, songbirds, turtles, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, foxes, deer and seasonal reports of seals or dolphins along the shoreline.
Many island wildlife situations are not true emergencies. A seal resting high on the beach may be normal. A fledgling bird on the ground may still be under parental care. A young rabbit hidden in grass is often supposed to be there. The cases that need quick action are visible injury, bleeding, fishing gear entanglement, collision trauma, inability to stand or move normally, or immediate danger from traffic, dogs or crowds.
Key wildlife rescue numbers for Martha’s Vineyard
MassWildlife – Wildlife assistance
Best general starting point for injured birds, small mammals, turtles, unclear wildlife situations and referrals to licensed rehabilitators in Massachusetts.
- Phone: 508-389-6300
- Best for: birds, mammals, reptiles and general wildlife questions.
MassWildlife Southeast District – Buzzards Bay
Regional office for southeastern Massachusetts. Useful when you need a second call for referral help, species-specific guidance or transport direction from the islands.
- Phone: 508-759-3406
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm.
- Address: 195 Bournedale Road, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532.
NOAA Stranding Hotline – Martha’s Vineyard
Use this for seals, dolphins or whales on Vineyard beaches. The hotline routes reports to the authorized local marine mammal response network, including Martha’s Vineyard coverage.
- Hotline: 866-755-6622
- Do not push the animal back into the water.
Wellfleet Bay Sea Turtle Hotline
Best direct number for sea turtles on the South Shore, Cape Cod and the Islands. This is the right call for a cold-stunned, stranded or injured sea turtle on Martha’s Vineyard.
- Hotline: 508-349-2615 ext. 6104
- Use for: sea turtles only.
Center for Coastal Studies – Entanglement Hotline
Call this if a whale, dolphin, seal or sea turtle is trailing rope, net or fishing gear in the marine environment near the island.
- Hotline: 1-800-900-3622
- Best for: entangled marine animals offshore or in surf.
Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard – Edgartown
Primarily a domestic animal shelter, not a wildlife rehabilitation center. Still useful as an island contact when people are unsure whom to call or need help with domestic-animal overlap.
- Phone: 508-627-8662
- Address: 1 Pennywise Path, Edgartown, MA 02539.
- Call first before bringing any animal.
MSPCA Wildlife Information Line
Helpful when the main question is whether the animal truly needs intervention or whether you should observe first.
- Phone: 617-383-1210
- Best for: “Is this normal?” questions.
Massachusetts Environmental Police
Use for immediate public safety problems, dangerous roadside situations, serious wildlife law-enforcement issues or urgent incidents involving large wild animals.
- 24-hour line: 1-800-632-8075
Who should you call first on Martha’s Vineyard?
Seal, dolphin or whale on the beach: NOAA hotline.
Sea turtle on shore: Wellfleet Bay sea turtle hotline.
Bird, rabbit, raccoon, fox, skunk, turtle or unknown land wildlife: MassWildlife first.
Animal tangled in rope, buoy line or net: Center for Coastal Studies entanglement hotline.
Other wildlife regions in Massachusetts
If you are close to a regional boundary, check two nearby regions. Some rehabilitators cover more than one area.
What to do before you call
Usually call now
- Bleeding, visible wounds or a wing or leg hanging abnormally.
- Bird struck by a car or window and unable to stand or fly.
- Seal, dolphin or whale with obvious injury, line, hook or crowd pressure.
- Sea turtle stranded on shore, especially in cold weather.
- Animal lying in a road shoulder, parking lot or active dog area.
Usually observe first
- Seal resting quietly high on the beach.
- Fledgling bird hopping on the ground and calling.
- Young rabbit tucked in grass with no visible injury.
- Young deer hidden in vegetation while the mother is away.
- Adult gull or shorebird standing still but alert near the shoreline.
1. Keep people, children and dogs back. On island beaches, crowding is often what turns a manageable situation into a real emergency.
2. Note the exact location: beach name, access path, nearest house number, trail marker, parking lot or harbor area. “Near South Beach” is too vague. “South Beach, Norton Point access, east of the parking lot” is useful.
3. Take a few photos from a safe distance if you can do so without disturbing the animal.
4. Do not feed wildlife, pour water into its mouth, or try to return seals or sea turtles to the ocean.
5. If a responder tells you to contain a small bird or mammal, use a ventilated box, keep it dark and quiet, and keep handling to an absolute minimum.
FAQ: Martha’s Vineyard wildlife help
Is a seal on the beach always an emergency?
No. Seals regularly haul out to rest. Keep well back, keep dogs away and watch for obvious problems such as fishing gear, bleeding, repeated distress or crowd pressure. If you are unsure, call the NOAA hotline and report what you see.
What should I do if I find a sea turtle on Martha’s Vineyard?
Call the sea turtle hotline right away. Do not drag the turtle, flip it, carry it by the flippers or put it back in the water. Give the responder your exact location and follow their instructions.
Can the island animal shelter take wildlife?
The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard is not the island’s primary wildlife rehabilitation center. It can still help with referral questions and overlap cases, but true wildlife cases should start with the wildlife or marine hotlines above.
What details matter most when I call?
Give the exact location, species if known, visible injuries, whether the animal is moving normally, whether fishing gear is involved, and whether dogs, vehicles or crowds are nearby. That information usually matters more than a long description.
Should I pick up a young bird or rabbit right away?
Usually not. Many young animals on Martha’s Vineyard are still being cared for even when adults are not visible. If there is no injury and no immediate danger, observe first and call for advice before intervening.