Wildlife Response: Our Dos and Don'ts

When 5,000 gallons of oil spilled into Baltimore's Inner Harbor in June 2025, people wanted to know what the National Aquarium was doing to help. It's a reasonable question, given our location, animal expertise and conservation mission.

The short answer is that, as a private nonprofit, the Aquarium could only get involved with permission from the agencies responsible for the cleanup. Addressing an event that impacts a public resource like the Inner Harbor falls to the city, state and federal governments, which work together to coordinate a response.

Behind the scenes in June, the Aquarium's Animal Health, Animal Care, and Animal Rescue staff provided expertise and coordinated resources to help with the oil spill response.

But in general, what can and can't the Aquarium do in situations like these?

As an aquarium, our main priority is the animals already in our care. From there, we allocate staff, funding and other resources toward efforts that do three things: give back to the local environment, support conservation and wildlife, and align with our staff's expertise. These efforts include contamination response, marine animal rehabilitation, and wildlife response on Aquarium property.

Contamination Responders

The National Aquarium's contaminated wildlife team formed in 2018 thanks to a collaborative effort between organizations—including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Together, they established a nationwide network of emergency responders led by the Alaska SeaLife Center. Select Aquarium staff participated in Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Training, or HAZWOPER 24, for wildlife professionals. This training teaches people how to respond to wildlife during a chemical spill, oil spill or other disaster.

Contamination events are highly regulated, though, and even those with HAZWOPER 24 certifications cannot act without government permission. During last year's oil spill, the government relied on Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research in Delaware to lead the wildlife response.

While we weren't needed last year, Aquarium staff have helped before, making the intense certification process worthwhile. HAZWOPER 24 certification includes an online course, in-person training and hands-on oiled wildlife training with an annual refresher course to stay certified. Senior Aviculturist Aimee Milarski recalls her hands-on training at Tri-State.

"I was surprised by how many people are needed when responding to a wildlife contamination event," said Aimee. "We needed three to four people for cleaning and rinsing, and two to dry each washed bird. And that doesn't count those who were cleaning the holding pens, washing dishes, feeding birds, doing laundry or conducting medical assessments. The work was nonstop, but knowing I could make a difference motivated me."

Rehabilitation Specialists

When National Aquarium Animal Rescue began in 1991, it started small and slowly grew based on local needs. Since then, we've responded to hundreds of sick and injured seals and endangered sea turtles along Maryland's 3,190 miles of coastline. We also work with partners like the Greater Atlantic Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network and the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute to rehabilitate marine animals along the East Coast.

The National Aquarium is the only organization in Maryland permitted to respond to and rehabilitate seals and sea turtles that strand along the state's coast. We rehab cold-stunned and injured sea turtles in the Aquarium, care for long-term seal patients at our Animal Care and Rescue Center in Baltimore, and triage both seals and sea turtles at our National Aquarium Animal Rescue Stranding Response Center in Ocean City, Maryland.

If you're in Maryland and see a seal or sea turtle, please report it to the National Aquarium's Animal Stranding Hotline at 410-576-3880. Outside Maryland, please report a stranded or injured marine animal to the appropriate U.S. organization, notify the appropriate Canadian organization of a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting, or contact the Mexico Marine Wildlife Rescue Center.

All National Aquarium stranding response and seal rehabilitation activities are conducted under NOAA permit NMFS SA-GAR-2025-006, and all National Aquarium sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation activities are conducted under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit 70312D.

On-Premises Triage

Our skilled veterinarians, veterinary technicians and animal care professionals can respond to wildlife found on Aquarium property. While our staff doesn't rehabilitate wildlife other than seals and sea turtles, we are permitted under Maryland law to provide aid to species like birds, mammals and reptiles. We can also transport them to rehabilitators. Our Conservation team also monitors animals around our property, especially Harbor Wetland®, and reports concerns to our vets.

The National Aquarium does not respond to wildlife not found on our property, nor do we treat pets. For the safety of our staff and the animals in our care, guests should never bring wildlife or pets (except service animals) into the Aquarium to avoid spreading disease.

Instead, we recommend contacting local rehabilitation organizations. We work closely with Baltimore City Animal Control and Baltimore County Animal Services and partner with long-term wildlife rehab centers, such as Phoenix Wildlife Center in Baldwin, Maryland, and Second Chance Wildlife Center in Clarksburg, Maryland.

"At the National Aquarium, we put our resources where we have expertise," said Animal Health Director Dr. Aimee Berliner. "When choosing which permits to pursue, we ask ourselves, 'Where can we do the most good?' And when we can't help, we find organizations that can."