Inside IFAW's response to the largest bottlenose dolphin mass stranding in Massachusetts

Two dolphins were fitted with small temporary satellite tags at this time, allowing the team to monitor their movements and determine whether groups that had become separated were reuniting. Rescue crews remained on the water throughout the day Tuesday, using vessels to encourage the dolphins away from shallow areas and toward deeper water.

Throughout the response, IFAW staff were supported by interns, more than 50trained volunteers, and partners from AmeriCorps Cape Cod and Whale and Dolphin Conservation, allowing the team to respond across multiple locations simultaneously.

Unlike many of the dolphin strandings IFAW responds to, this rescue required a different approach. Bottlenose dolphins can measure 9 to 10 feet long and weigh 600 to 700 pounds, with some approaching 800 pounds. In a typical response, stranded dolphins can be transported in IFAW's custom-built rescue vehicle to a safer release site near deep water. With so many large animals spread across multiple locations, that was simply not an option.

Instead, responders provided supportive care during low tide, keeping the dolphins upright, protecting their skin, monitoring their breathing and physical condition, and helping them conserve energy until the tide returned. Once the animals refloated, rescue teams carefully guided them away from the expansive tidal flats and toward deeper water.

"This is a very stressful event," said Dr. Sarah Sharp, IFAW's lead veterinarian. "It's incredibly complex to have multiple groups of animals spread across different locations, and the fact that they're such large dolphins makes caring for them much more difficult. These are long days for our team, but harder still on the dolphins."

The work required constant vigilance. Even after the dolphins refloated, there was no guarantee they would remain in deeper water. The team stayed in the area through successive tidal cycles, ready to respond if the animals returned to shore.