Rescuers spring into action to try and save dolphins stranded in two-day Cape Cod event

(Yarmouth Port, MA – September 14, 2025)—A joint rescue operation unfolded over the weekend in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, resulting in the successful saving and return to the ocean of several dolphins after multiple strandings.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare got the initial alert via its Stranding Hotline shortly before 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, indicating six or more dolphins were navigating Chipman’s Cove in Wellfleet—a notorious spot for strandings because of its shallow inlets, intricate mudflats, and curved coastline. Soon after, IFAW volunteers confirmed a group of 12 dolphins in the vicinity.

With low tide approaching at 10:30 a.m., the team sprang into action without delay.

“Strandings can escalate rapidly, and time is critical,” explained Nicole Hunter, IFAW’s response manager. “Our crews navigated rising temperatures, changing water levels, and challenging landscapes to access and aid these dolphins. We treat each one as a unique being, and every rescue represents a beacon of optimism.”

By low tide, several dolphins had beached themselves across various sites in Wellfleet. Out of the 12, seven ended up stranded, while others stayed afloat in shallow waters.

Midday saw the seven dolphins carefully moved into IFAW’s specialized mobile rescue vehicle for dolphins, as the other five lingered in Wellfleet Harbor. The relocated animals underwent veterinary care, such as intravenous hydration and comfort measures, enroute to their release point near Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown.

Teams stayed vigilant through the night. Come Sunday morning, five dolphins were spotted again in the Herring River Gut area of Wellfleet. One had passed away before help arrived, but the four surviving ones were transported and freed into deeper waters off Herring Cove Beach.

The released dolphins all swam away vigorously, with one from each day equipped with a satellite tag for ongoing observation.

The entire group consisted of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), a species often seen in Cape Cod’s waters. It comprised six males and six females, spanning juvenile, subadult, and adult stages.

So far in 2025, IFAW has handled around 100 stranding incidents involving dolphins and porpoises along Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Despite years of expertise, these scenarios require swift deployment of personnel, volunteers, vets, and dedicated gear. This weekend’s response involved partnership with the Cape Cod National Park Service.

“Witnessing dolphins in distress is always devastating,” Hunter added. “What keeps us going—the rescuers, supporters, and medical staff—is watching those same creatures head back to sea, perhaps weakened but alive, thanks to our interventions. It reinforces our mission.”

To notify about a live or stranded marine mammal, text or dial IFAW’s Stranding Hotline at (508) 743-9548.