Dolphin Stranded Near Tobay Dies

A live dolphin that stranded himself in between the east end of Jones Beach and Tobay Beach Tuesday afternoon has died.

The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation responded to the mammal's plight and are planning a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

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Julika Wocial, rescue program supervisor at the foundation, said they see dolphin strandings throughout the year along the entire coast of Long Island, especially in the summer.

"It wasn't anything out of the ordinary," Wocial said, adding they did have a successful dolphin rescue in early June.

A dolphin stranded itself on a sand bar near Sore Thumb and with the help of the Coast Guard, they were able to rescue it.

"She's doing pretty well and has a good appetite," Wocial said. "She's eating almost 80 pounds of squid per day."

With dolphin rescues, Wocial says you have to be cautiously optimistic because it's difficult to rehabilitate the mammals once they strand themselves. 

"Only 5 percent survive if they are rescued," she added.