What happens to the animals that wash up on the beach dead?
The Network responds to all reports of stranded animals. All animals are assessed on the beach and assigned a Code condition. Code 1 is alive at the time of stranding, Codes 2-5 are dead, with a Code 5 being the most decomposed. A Code 2 animal is considered extremely fresh and is usually rushed back to the lab for a necropsy (an animal autopsy). Much valuable information can be obtained from a Code 2 animal. However, all animals provide some information that can be used to help us understand why they strand.
