2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha

Two stranded dolphins have been rescued from mangroves near Matlacha.

Late Monday night, witnesses reported seeing two dolphins stranded in a shallow water lagoon, deep in the mangroves.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, along with biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, responded Tuesday morning and used shallow-water boats to navigate through the mangrove canals and mud flats to locate the two dolphins.

The lagoon was only 2 to 3 feet deep at high tide.

“Making the conditions more difficult was the 2 feet of water or less in the trails leading to open water, [which] prevented the dolphins from escaping,” LCSO said.

Biologists believe the dolphins could have been stranded since a very high tide in mid-November or even as far back as when water levels rose during Hurricane Milton in October.

Due to the technical and environmental challenges of trapping, lifting and moving the two 9-foot adult dolphins through heavy mud multiple agencies collaborated to help the dolphins.

FWC, LCSO, MOTE Marine, Brookfield Zoo Chicago-Sarasota, Dolphin Research Program and Clearwater Aquarium met early Wednesday morning with more shallow water boats and equipment to save the dolphins.

With all hands on deck, Lee County Marine Unit deputies jumped in to help.  

Both dolphins were placed on floating mats, pulled through over 300 yards of mud and muck and then towed by boat to deeper waters.  

FWC biologists evaluated the dolphins, applied satellite tags and released them back into deeper water in Matlacha Pass.