Workshop focuses on stranding season for dolphins, turtles

February through May is stranding season for dolphins and turtles here on the Coast

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies says an average of 50 dolphins and 100 turtles are reported each year.

IMMS hosted a workshop this morning to update first responders about how to handle animals that are being reported as stranded or accidentally caught on a fishing line.

The strandings can be the result of a mother or calf in distress or environmental factors. Older dolphins that are at the end of their lives also can be stranded.

The first thing to remember is to call the IMMS hotline to report the animal then follow the instructions of the person on the line until help arrives.

Police, firefighters, department of marine resources, sand beach employees, wildlife organizations, and others are trained to help when a stranded animal is found.

Theresa Madrigal, the IMMS stranding coordinator, said for first responders sometimes it picking up an animal found in the middle of the night.

Sometimes, it’s just having extra manpower to lift an animal that can be several hundred pounds. IMMS Director Dr. Moby Solangi said, “Our training helps minimize the damage to the animal and help in the restoration and recovery.”

Madrigal said, “This training we hold every year is for our first responders, so local fire departments, police departments, county sheriffs. We also have some of our local wildlife rehabilitators come for this training and it’s kind of to cover different aspects of what we do in the stranding season and how they can help in those efforts.”

If you see a stranded animal, please call IMMS at 888-767-33657 or 888-SOS-DOLPHIN.