Audubon officials say they have now rescued six dolphins in Louisiana that were trapped after hurricane Laura drove them out of the Gulf of Mexico.
Crews rescued and released a mother dolphin and her calf that were trapped in a bayou in Grand Chenier, Louisiana after Hurricane Laura.
"This rescue, along with other rescues associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts from our partner organizations," said Audubon Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding, Rescue, and Rehab Coordinator Gabriella Harlamert. "We are thankful for the continued support of our partners and that we were able to positively impact marine life in Louisiana."
Since September, Audubon and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network have successfully rescued and released a total of six bottlenose dolphins that were presumed to be trapped from Hurricane Laura.
A news release adds, "It is common for the storm surge and increased coastal flooding associated with hurricanes to cause marine mammals to strand on land or be washed into inland waterways where they are not typically observed, such as lakes and canals. Animals may be found in these areas for weeks to months following the hurricane, requiring rescue by trained and authorized responders to return them to their natural habitat."
Officials say that all six of these rescues were made possible due to the public reporting these strandings.
"The public is advised to report all stranded or out-of-habitat marine mammals and sea turtles (live or dead) to CWN at (504) 235-3005."