Cape & Islands News

Seven more dolphins strand in Wellfleet Thursday

Rescuers release five, euthanize two

An IFAW crew was back in Wellfleet Thursday as seven more dolphins stranded on the mud flats of the Herring River.  Monday an IFAW crew rescued six dolphins from Mayo Beach and Indian Neck in Wellfleet and released them at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown.

Of the seven that stranded Thursday, five were tested, treated and released off Provincetown and two had to be euthanized.

According to an IFAW release Tuesday, more than sixty dolphins stranded since late last week.  Rescuers have been able to save the majority of the animals they have treated from Dennis to Wellfleet.  But of the more than sixty, approximately half were found dead, most likely from injuries sustained from stranding. 

Dolphins strand this time of year for many different reasons, according to IFAW, including illness, injury, extreme weather and tides.  As pod mammals,  dolphin stranding numbers can be high as a group of dolphins will often follow one leader, even if it is towards the shore.

In addition to treating and releasing the healthy dolphins, rescuers are tagging them and monitoring their post release progress and location.

Video by David G. Curran.