Dolphin Found Stranded In Long Island Creek Euthanized

SOUTHOLD, NY — A dolphin was found this week stranded in Jockey Creek in Southold.

According to Robert DiGiovanni, Jr., founder and chief scientist at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, it has not yet been determined whether the common dolphin, which was about 6-feet, 11-inches, was a male or a female.

Dolphins normally grow to be about 7.5 feet to 8.5 feet, so the animal was a sub-adult to adult, he said.

The dolphin was spotted stranded on the morning of Thursday's storm and assessed to be in poor condition; the dolphin was euthanized by the New York Marine Rescue Center, DiGiovanni said. "It was in poor condition," he said.

Although two dolphins were first spotted, the second hasn't been seen since, he said.

AMSEAS will conduct a necropsy on Saturday, DiGiovanni said.

AMSEAS is authorized by National Atmospheric Oceanic Administration's fisheries division and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to respond to marine mammals and sea turtles that strand in New York, DiGiovanni said.

AMSEAS is the lead organization authorized to investigate the cause of stranding and mortality events for whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles, he said.

On average, 10 common dolphins strand each year in New York; Southold's dolphin was the second this year, DiGiovanni said.

Although there are dolphins in the area, spotting one in the creek is rare, DiGiovanni said. "We've seen so many changes during the last couple of years — more marine life, so we've seen more washing up."

The goal is to study the causes of mortality and to determine if humans might be contributing to the increase in death, DiGiovanni said. "How does this relate to conservation?" he asked. "Is what we are seeing something that's really wrong or is it population-related?"

AMSEAS, a not-for-profit organization, "cannot do this work alone and rely on a dedicated group of volunteers and the public to respond to these animals," DiGiovanni said.

Anyone who sees a sick or injured marine mammal or sea turtle should contact the New York State Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829. If the public sees healthy or free-swimming animals, they can be reported to sightings@amseas.org.

AMSEAS was formed in 2016 to respond to the increasing number of animals stranding on the shores of New York and to "provide a voice to these animals," DiGiovanni said.

Since 2016, AMSEAS has responded to on average 200 animals a year including 61 large whales and 40 common dolphins. AMSEAS is currently caring for 15 endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles at their newest sea turtle critical care facility built for sea turtles in New York in the last 25 years.