Stranded Dolphin Rescued In East Hampton

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A team of angels came together to rescue a dolphin stranded in East Hampton recently.

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, on April 1, East Hampton's marine patrol notified Region 1 environmental conservation police officers that they were on scene with a stranded dolphin in Accabonac Harbor off Louse Point.

The stranded animal was believed to be a Risso’s dolphin, the DEC said.

ECOs Sean Rockefeller, Evan Laczi, and Jordan Doroski responded along with staff from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation — the dolphin was found to be in good health, the DEC said.

The ECOs, Riverhead Foundation staff, and East Hampton marine patrol personnel used a stretcher to carry the dolphin to deeper water. The dolphin swam out to the bay and eventually traveled out of sight and off to freedom.

New York State Department of ECOs enforce the 71 chapters of NY Environmental Conservation Law, protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York, the DEC said.

In 2018, the 288 ECOs across the state responded to 21,668 calls and worked on cases that resulted in 20,665 tickets or arrests for incidents ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

Anyone who witnesses an environmental crime or believes a violation of environmental law has occurred is asked to call the DEC's division of law enforcement hotline at 1-844-DEC-ECOS, or 1-844-332-3267.

"From Montauk Point to Mount Marcy, from Brooklyn to Buffalo, the ECOs patrolling our state are the first line of defense in protecting New York's environment and our natural resources, ensuring that they exist for future generations of New Yorkers," said DEC Commissioner Basic Seggos.