Cape Cod Dolphin Stranding Is Largest In American History, Experts Say

FALMOUTH, MA — The International Fund for Animal Welfare recently called a section of Wellfleet Harbor "the epicenter of our mass strandings." Now, they've likely locked that title in for good.

IFAW officials confirmed that the June 28 mass stranding event in Wellfleet is the largest involving dolphins in the history of this country.

A total of 146 dolphins were involved in the stranding, with officials estimating that 102 survived the event, which took rescuers multiple days. Seven dolphins needed to be euthanized and 37 dolphins died of natural causes, officials said.

The stranding happened in the Herring River Gut, the same location that bares the unfortunate tagline as an "epicenter" of dolphin strandings.

"The mass stranding occurred in the Herring River Gut which is an area with 11–13-foot tidal fluctuations, treacherous mud, and razor-sharp oysters that can easily cut through dolphins’ delicate skin," officials said.

"Conditions were especially difficult given the sheer number of animals, and how spread out they were," they added.

There were a number of problems for rescuers, who stayed active in the area due to the high likelihood of restranding, which unfortunately happened.

The same group of Atlantic white-sided faced deadly circumstances at another local in Wellfleet just days later.

Eleven of the same dolphins were found on July 2 near Powers Landing in Wellfleet. Nine of those dolphins were able to be rescued and relocated, but two others were euthanized.