Dolphin Trapped in Bolsa Chica Wetlands; Rescue Efforts Have Failed

A dolphin became stranded in the shallow waters of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands today and rescue crews were assessing how to help it back to open water.

Rescue workers this afternoon decided to back off and observe the dolphin, hoping tomorrow morning's tide will help it get back to the ocean.

"We decided it's a healthy, adult animal, and it's not needed for us to intervene right now," said Peter Wallerstein of the Marine Animal Rescue organization.

Rescue workers from the El Segundo-based nonprofit got into the water this  morning to "gauge responsiveness, how it reacts to us, how much strength it has," Wallerstein said.

"We're going to back off and wait for the tide to come in the morning," he said this afternoon, adding the hope is that the dolphin found a way in, so will likely find its way out.

The dolphin likely followed some fish into a "dead-end area" of the wetlands near Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, Wallerstein said.

If the tide does not help the dolphin get back out into the ocean, "plan B" is for the rescue workers to get back into the water and try to either guide the dolphin out or trap it and put it back into deeper waters, Wallerstein said.

As for curious onlookers, Wallerstein urged them to stay away.

"We just want people to be smart. If they go and observe, be quiet and don't get involved or get in the water," Wallerstein said, adding that too much noise or activity could make the dolphin anxious.

"Be smart and stay away," he said.

It wasn't immediately clear how the dolphin wound up in the shallow canal, where it was spotted this morning. Apparently confused about its whereabouts, the dolphin swam repeatedly in small circles while rescue crews stood onshore.