Editing Openai/691a2c65-8cbc-8011-a9e4-17f22e37f0e9 (section)

==== 4. Why “doing nothing” can actually be the least cruel option they have ====

NOAA and the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network follow pretty strict criteria for when euthanasia is considered: things like severe injury, obvious poor health, being a dependent calf alone, or being an offshore species with historically poor rehab outcomes.MMI Oregon State<ref>{{cite web|title=MMI Oregon State|url=https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/ommsn|publisher=MMI Oregon State|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>

Their own guidance is very blunt:
* Euthanasia is chosen when the animal cannot be saved and is suffering, and the goal becomes relieving that suffering as humanely and quickly as possible.NOAA Fisheries<ref>{{cite web|title=NOAA Fisheries|url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/understanding-marine-mammal-euthanasia|publisher=NOAA Fisheries|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>

From the beach, that can look like, “They showed up, pushed everyone back, and decided to kill him.”
From their side, they may have already:
* Reviewed photos and reports overnight
* Talked with vets and stranding experts
* Assessed body condition (emaciation or not, breathing, responsiveness, injuries)
* Considered tides, surf, and whether a refloat would be realistically survivable

So even though the final call seems sudden to the public, the actual decision usually isn’t made lightly or quickly behind the scenes.