Officials in Lee County, Florida, rescue dolphins stranded in shallow lagoon
Two dolphins were rescued in Lee County, Florida, on Wednesday after being stranded in the shallow waters of a lagoon for possibly more than a month. The county sheriff’s office received reports from witnesses who saw the pair stuck deep in the mangroves near Matlacha late Monday night, prompting a rescue operation the following morning.
The LCSO’s Marine Unit and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists utilized shallow water boats to locate the dolphins, navigating through mangrove canals and mud flats. The lagoon’s water depth was only about two or three feet at high tide, with trails to open water measuring around two feet deep, making it difficult for the dolphins to escape.
According to the sheriff’s office, biologists believe the dolphins may have been stranded since a very high tide in mid-November or even during Hurricane Milton in October when water levels rose significantly.
On Tuesday, the rescue efforts faced challenges due to the technical and environmental obstacles of trapping, lifting, and moving the adult dolphins through heavy mud. As a result, additional agencies joined the operation on Wednesday, including the FWC, LCSO, Dolphin Research Program, Brookfield Zoo Chicago-Sarasota, Clearwater Aquarium, and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.
After placing the dolphins on floating mats, they were carefully pulled through more than 300 yards of mud and muck before being towed to deeper waters, where they were finally rescued. FWC biologists evaluated the dolphins, attached satellite tags for tracking purposes, and released them into deeper waters in Matlacha Pass.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office expressed its dedication to assisting both land and sea animals, stating on Facebook, “The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is always willing to help out our great residents.” The successful rescue operation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies and volunteers, ensuring the safety and well-being of the stranded dolphins.
