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In a Facebook post, The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said it has been monitoring the bottlenose dolphin since it was first reported in Cape May Court House on Thursday, May 16. MMSC staff and volunteers have checked on the dolphin several times a day.
Two MMSC boats tried to guide the dolphin out of the creek on Saturday, May 18 but it would not leave the area. The animal rehabilitation center in Brigantine received special equipment from an out-of-state partner organization on Tuesday, May 21.
MMSC said it was planning another rescue attempt by the end of the week.
"We will not be sharing specific details about the proposed rescue plans and specific timeline as we do not want unauthorized people to interfere with the rescue efforts or make any attempts to move the animal on their own, as that will put the dolphin and people at risk," MMSC said.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act makes it federally illegal to feed or harass dolphins and other marine mammals. MMSC said you should not approach the dolphin on your own because that could stress it out and make the rescue attempt more difficult.
Another bottlenose dolphin was stuck in the same part of the creek in August 2016 and rescue efforts helped that dolphin eventually return to the bay.
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