Mammal Recovery, Field Stabilization, and Transport Unit. The Mammal Recovery and Transport Unit is responsible for recovering live and dead impacted mammals and transporting them to rehabilitation facilities. The Mammal Recovery and Transport Unit evaluates the need to recover impacted mammals on a case-by-case basis. If oiled pinnipeds, sea otters, or cetaceans are determined to be ill and require retrieval, recovery will be instituted by the Mammal Recovery and Transportation Unit, in conjunction with NMFS (for pinnipeds), USFWS (for sea otters), and sufficiently trained and experienced capture personnel (members of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network). Success at recovering mammals depends on proper technique and timing. Trained staff should recover live mammals. Once recovered, impacted live mammals should be transported to the designated field stabilization site or rehabilitation facility as soon as possible. Appropriate measures must be undertaken by the Wildlife Branch to ensure that dead animals are recovered appropriately, identified, documented and held until the trustees approve disposal. The prompt removal of disabled and dead oiled animals from the environment can be critical to minimize the effects of secondary oiling such as poisoning of predators and scavengers. A Marine Mammal Stranding Report must be submitted for dead marine mammal sightings, as well as upon capture and prior to transport of live marine mammals.
