Officials with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were attempting to coax a bottlenose dolphin out of the South River.
The sea mammal has called Old Bridge its home for the past week. Wildlife experts say the animal is not under any stress, but they want it to return to its natural habitat as soon as possible.
DEP State Conservation officers were out on the South River Friday riding Jet Skis in an attempt to guide the dolphin back into the ocean.
Hundreds of spectators have been lining up in Old Bridge to catch a sighting. Police have been directing traffic around the area and preventing people from getting into the water.
Editors Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified DEP officers as New Jersey state troopers.