North Virginia Beach , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Neighborhood Alert!

Brainwaves at the Beach

— Marine Mammals —

Neighborhood Alert! Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 11, 2025

1. Neighborhood Alert! Marker

Inscription.

Neighborhood Alert!. Brainwaves at the Beach. , Because marine mammals are vital members of a balanced ecosystem, Federal laws are in place to minimize the impact of human actives on their health, behavior and habitat. Any action that changes the behavior of a marine mammal is considered harassment. For example, it is illegal to swim with, chase, or feed wild marine mammals because these actions disrupt their natural behaviors and can endanger their lives., Beware Boats , Ship strike is a leading cause of death for slow-swimming right whales, a critically endangered species. If careless, even people operating smaller boats or personal watercraft such as jet skis can disrupt and endanger marine mammals. , Accidental Entanglement , Marine mammals usually can avoid fishing gear, but occasionally they get entangled in nets, fishing lines or hooks. The Virginia Aquarium collaborates with commercial fishermen and Federal agencies to develop equipment and practices less likely to impact species such as bottlenose dolphins., Dangerous Debris , Dolphins and whales can mistake plastic debris and balloons in the water for food and may die from the ingestion of such trash. Many local organizations, including school environmental clubs, are raising awareness of the ocean trash issue through special events and projects., Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program , If a marine mammal strands on the beach, the Virginia Aquarium is authorized by NOAA Fisheries to remove the animal for examination or emergency medical care. Stranded animals that can be rehabilitated are released back into their natural habitat. Dead animas are carefully studied to determine cause of death and to collect scientific data that provides a better understanding of the biology and life history of these fascinating species., If you find a live or dead stranded marine mammal or sea turtle, call Virginia Aquarium Standing Response Team’s 24-hour hotline at (757)437-6159., [Captions:] , Right whale calf with propeller cuts , When in a boat, stay at least 50 yards from dolphins, 100 yards from most large whales and 500 yards from right whales., Freeing a dolphin from a fishing net , Dolphin wrapped in crab pot line , Don’t cast lines or set nets near marine mammals., Beach clean-up , Recycle, properly dispose of trash, and don’t release balloons., Stranding Response Team in action

Because marine mammals are vital members of a balanced ecosystem, Federal laws are in place to minimize the impact of human actives on their health, behavior and habitat. Any action that changes the behavior of a marine mammal is considered harassment. For example, it is illegal to swim with, chase, or feed wild marine mammals because these actions disrupt their natural behaviors and can endanger their lives.

Beware Boats
Ship strike is a leading cause of death for slow-swimming right whales, a critically endangered species. If careless, even people operating smaller boats or personal watercraft such as jet skis can disrupt and endanger marine mammals.

Accidental Entanglement
Marine mammals usually can avoid fishing gear, but occasionally they get entangled in nets, fishing lines or hooks. The Virginia Aquarium collaborates with commercial fishermen and Federal agencies to develop equipment and practices less likely to impact species such as bottlenose dolphins.

Dangerous Debris
Dolphins and whales can mistake plastic debris and balloons in the water for food and may die from the ingestion of such trash.

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Many local organizations, including school environmental clubs, are raising awareness of the ocean trash issue through special events and projects.

Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program
If a marine mammal strands on the beach, the Virginia Aquarium is authorized by NOAA Fisheries to remove the animal for examination or emergency medical care. Stranded animals that can be rehabilitated are released back into their natural habitat. Dead animas are carefully studied to determine cause of death and to collect scientific data that provides a better understanding of the biology and life history of these fascinating species.

If you find a live or dead stranded marine mammal or sea turtle, call Virginia Aquarium Standing Response Team’s 24-hour hotline at (757)437-6159.

[Captions:]
Right whale calf with propeller cuts
When in a boat, stay at least 50 yards from dolphins, 100 yards from most large whales and 500 yards from right whales.

Freeing a dolphin from a fishing net
Dolphin wrapped in crab pot line
Don’t cast lines or set nets near marine mammals.

Beach clean-up
Recycle, properly dispose of trash, and don’t release balloons.

Stranding Response Team in action

Erected by This

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 9, 2010

2. Neighborhood Alert! Marker

This is a photo of the marker in its prior location.

project was funded by a grant from National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment.

Location. 36° 51.141′ N, 75° 58.537′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in North Virginia Beach. It can be reached from the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and 24th Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1503 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach VA 23451, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 11, 2025

3. Neighborhood Alert! Marker

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Who's in the neighborhood? (here, next to this marker); U-boats Off the Mid-Atlantic Coast (here, next to this marker); 24th Street Park (here, next to this marker); The United States Life-Saving Service Stations & Crews (a few steps from this marker); U.S. Coast Guard Virginia Lifeboat Stations (a few steps from this marker); Buoy Lantern (a few steps from this marker); Replica Race Point Surfboat (a few steps from this marker); Old British Admiralty Anchor / USCG Cutter Propeller (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia Beach.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Stern piece of a ship (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

Additional commentary.
1. About the sign
At the time this profile was published, markers exclusively interpreting nature or natural history were included in the Database. This is no longer the case.

— Submitted June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 9, 2010

4. Neighborhood Alert! Marker

This is a photo of the marker in its prior location.

Virginia Beach Boardwalk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 9, 2010

5. Virginia Beach Boardwalk

Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 337 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on August 17, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5. submitted on August 17, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.