Dolphins spotted in Milton Memorial Park

Visitors in Milton Memorial Park got an unusual surprise on July 11, when two dolphins were seen swimming near the park’s marina.

Suzanne Thurman, head of the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute, said the two dolphins were a mother and her calf who had swum up into the Broadkill River from Delaware Bay in pursuit of fish. She said it's likely the dolphins had tracked the fish all the way into the park area.

Thurman said dolphins have been spotted before in areas such as the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, but seeing them that far into the Broadkill River is a bit unusual. She said workers from MERR monitored the dolphins, who did not show any signs of distress and did not linger in the area for very long. Thurman said at one point, the mama dolphin headed back out toward the bay, and the calf was a little late in noticing before eventually catching up. She said as far as she knows, the dolphins made their way back to the bay without incident, as there have been no further sightings of them.

The sightings of these dolphins comes a week before MERR is set to host its annual dolphin watch, from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, July 19. Thurman said watch stations will be set up at several points along the coastline, and those who want to participate can call 302-410-8700. 

Encounters with nature figure to be plentiful during the busy summer season, and Thurman said she is encouraging boaters in Indian River Bay to be on the lookout for a loggerhead turtle that is in distress. The rear of the turtle’s top shell has an injury, and the turtle seems to be having difficulty diving. There is also a lot of algae as well as barnacles on the shell, Thurman said. Anyone who may spot the turtle can call MERR at 302-228-5029. 

For video of the Milton dolphin sighting, go to https://www.facebook.com/MERRInstitute/videos/1453025279053614.