FWC Officials Save Beached Bottlenose Dolphin After Citizen Reports Stranded Marine Mammals
By Space Coast Daily // October 7, 2019
Purchase of a 'Save the Manatee' plate helps support FWC’s marine mammal stranding efforts
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION – Recently, a citizen found a 6-foot bottlenose dolphin stranded on a sandbar citizen in Matlacha Pass. The citizen immediately called the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline and offered to stay with the dolphin FWC officers arrived.
With help from FWC Law Enforcement and the Sheriff’s Office, biologists arrived and assessed the dolphin’s condition. The male dolphin was determined to be alert and in good body condition.
Biologist took measurements, photos, and roto-tagged the animal. With reports of other dolphins in the area and in consultation with NOAA Fisheries Service, the decision was made to release the animal on site.
Just after release, the dolphin was observed swimming with another dolphin.
The best way to help stranded marine life is to do what the citizen in this case did, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 to report stranded, injured, or dead marine mammals.
The purchase of a “Save the Manatee” auto tag helps support FWC’s marine mammal stranding efforts. CLICK HERE to purchase Save the Manatee plate.
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