What to do if you find starfish, sea turtles or jellyfish stranded on SC beaches, experts say

If you spend enough time on South Carolina beaches, you might encounter a sea creature stuck on the shore. Even in colder weather, when humans are less inclined to take a trip to the beach, marine animals in the area continue to wash ashore.

“Winter is generally a quieter season here in South Carolina — in most places — but I think a lot of people would be surprised at how active wildlife remains,” said South Carolina Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Erin Weeks. “So there is actually a decent likelihood that you’ll see things stranded ashore during the winter.”

If you want to lend a hand to local wildlife, here’s what you should know about when–and how–to help South Carolina’s aquatic animals.

Smaller animals

Unlike larger animals, smaller species like jellyfish, starfish, seahorses and sand dollars have little control over where the ocean takes them.

“They’re not very strong swimmers, so they’re pretty much at the mercy of the ocean currents and winds,” said Weeks. “And so anytime we have storms offshore or strong onshore winds, they can get pushed ashore.”

According to Weeks, it’s generally a good idea to stay away from jellyfish and Portuguese men-of-war. Both lion’s mane jellyfish, which are more commonly found in South Carolina during the colder months, and men-of-war are venomous species that can sting even after the animal is dead.

When it’s safe to help

Cannonball jellyfish are spotted more frequently in warmer months. Unlike lion’s mane and men-of-war, the small, round species is “pretty harmless to humans,” Weeks said.

For other small species you can identify as safe for humans, there’s no reason not to return the animal to the ocean.

“If you see a sea star or a seahorse or something like that washed ashore and you want to throw it back into the water, chances are that it’s been ashore for a while already, and it may not be alive anymore, but there’s no harm in throwing it back,” Weeks said.

Larger animals

Sea turtles are among the species you’re more likely to encounter in the winter. While sea turtles are present in South Carolina waters all year, according to Weeks, rapid water temperature changes can cold-stun the animals.

“They essentially go into a sea turtle version of hypothermia, and they will get washed ashore because they can no longer swim,” Weeks said.

Marine mammals, like dolphins, whales and even manatees, can also get stranded on South Carolina shores.

When to call SCDNR

For both marine mammals and sea turtles, the best way to help a stranded animal is to give the animal space and contact SCDNR’s hotline at 1-800-955-5431 to report the stranding.

In these situations, SCDNR dispatches a member of its stranding network team to help the stunned, sick, injured or trapped animal.

It’s also a good idea to call the hotline if you encounter a stranded shark, but the SCDNR response may be different. Because the department typically only dispatches a response if the stranded animal is federally protected or a threat to public safety, SCDNR might not send someone to respond to a shark.

However, the hotline operator will still be able to advise on a shark stranding.

“If it is not one of those two, then you can certainly call the hotline, and they can probably provide you guidance as to what to do, or put you in touch with an officer who can guide you,” Weeks said. “I would not recommend handling a shark unless you are a skilled fisherman with a lot of experience doing it.”