CAPE COD, Mass., Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Officials say six stranded dolphins were found on the beaches of Cape Cod on Tuesday, making a total of almost 50 stranded dolphins found since Thursday.
From January to March, beached dolphins are a common sight on the shores of Cape Cod, but officials say it's rare to see mass strandings, where two or more dolphins are stuck on shore for several days.
Researchers say the dolphins may have washed ashore when one strayed closer to shallow water, causing the pack to follow.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare's Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program oversees rescues of beached dolphins. The largest rescue was undertaken on Saturday, when 40 beach dolphins were found on the shores of Dennis, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet.
The six found on Wellfleet Tuesday, were lifted onto stretchers and hoisted onto carts to be wheeled up shore. They are put in a trailer and either covered with blankets to keep them warm, or doused with water to cool them off. Then the team conducts a battery of tests, including hearing tests, sonogram and a blood draw.
The dolphins are then fitted with satellite tags so the team could monitor their survival. The team then releases the dolphins back into the water.
The Boston Globe reports over 15 dolphins have been tagged in the past two years.
