MATLACHA, Fla. (TMX) – A pair of stranded dolphins rescued from the shallows of a “mangroves maze” in Florida this week may have been stuck there since a very high tide in November, or even as far back as Hurricane Milton in October, officials said.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said witnesses reported seeing two dolphins stranded in a shallow lagoon near Matlacha late Monday night.
Matlacha is located along the western Florida coast, near Cape Coral and Fort Myers.
On Tuesday morning, the sheriff’s Marine Unit and marine biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded with shallow water boats and located the two dolphins deep in the mangroves.
With a depth of just 2–3 feet at high tide, the lagoon was difficult to navigate, and with less than 2 feet of water in the canals leading to open water, the dolphins were unable to escape.
Rescuers had to return Wednesday with help from multiple aquariums and marine experts to aid in “trapping, lifting, and moving the two 9′ adult dolphins through heavy mud,” the sheriff’s office said.
A video shared by the sheriff’s office shows rescuers wading through the muddy shallows with the dolphins perched on floating mats.
“Both dolphins were placed on floating mats and pulled through over 300 yards of mud and muck, and then towed by boat to deeper waters,” the sheriff’s office said.
FWC biologists evaluated the dolphins and applied satellite tags before they were released in Matlacha Pass.
Biologists believe the dolphins may have been stuck in the mangroves “at least” since a very high tide in mid-November, and possibly since as far back as Hurricane Milton in October, when water levels rose unusually high.
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