Crews being proactive after dolphin strandings

WELLFLEET, Mass. -- Over the past few weeks more than 100 dolphins have stranded themselves on the shores of Cape Cod.

Another day, another dolphin dying or dead has become the norm in Wellfleet. So many dolphins are coming ashore rescue crews are no longer waiting.

“It’s not prudent to wait anymore because we’ve had so many strandings right in a row we’re staging our teams out in the field. We’re actually departing now before low tide to be out in Wellfleet…our hot spot,” said Katie Moore of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Every day crews from the International Fund for Animal Welfare gear up, drive to Wellfleet and wait.

“We’re very tired…we’ve been going to Jan. 12 and the team is actually just exhausted. It’s almost a daily event now,” said an IFAW employee.

Experts expect about 200 animals to strand themselves each year.

So far, 129 dolphins have stranded themselves in just over a month, 80 percent of them in Wellfleet. Of those stranded, 37 could be saved and released while 92 have died.

IFAW is calling in crews from the New England Aquarium and other organizations for mutual aide. IFAW has almost exhausted its entire rescue budget for the year.

Click here to donate to the IFAW.

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