Dolphin in Keansburg Creek, Police Confirm

Keansburg, NJ - A two-foot-long dolphin was spotted late Thursday night in Waackaack Creek in Keansburg, Deputy Chief John White said.

The animal has been identified as a Harbor Porpoise, and it seems to be a few years old, said Bob Schoelkopf, founder and director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Harbor porpoises are native to Raritan Bay.

The porpoise was first spotted Thursday evening, but is still in the creek as of Friday afternoon, White said. Keansburg police called the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, who sent officers up Thursday night to try and locate the dolphin. However, they could not find him, but when officers returned Friday morning, they spotted the dolphin.

The mammal has been spotted swimming in between the Henry Hudson Trail and the 10th Street bridge, he said.

This porpoise is likely part of a pod of Harbor Porpoises that was spotted in Waackack Creek earlier this week, chasing herring, their favorite food, Schoelkopf said. Most of the pod swam back out again, but for some reason, this one became disoriented and stayed behind in the creek, he said.

"We are aware of the animal and we have volunteers on the scene," Schoelkopf said. "But we cannot physically move him until we get permission from the National Marine Fisheries Service. We are hoping that as the tide goes out tonight, he will simply swim back out to the Raritan Bay again."

If he does not, Schoelkopf said his volunteers have a plan in place to get the mammal back out to sea. However, he cautioned curious onlookers to stay out of the water and not try to "rescue" the dolphin.

"It is illegal for you to approach this animal. There are police and federal law enforcement monitoring this area," he said. "If you enter the water trying to save the dolphin yourself, you will be fined. Please: The animal knows what to do. Humans are the ones who can mess this up."

The porpoise does not appear to be hurt or in any danger, both he and White agreed. Please do not bother or disturb the dolphin, they asked.

Stock image; not the dolphin in reference