Dolphin spotted along South River in Old Bridge

Dozens of New Jersey residents enjoying the summer weather along the South River were treated to an up-close view of a bottlenose dolphin. Environmental officials say the dolphin has been seen swimming

News 12 Staff

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Aug 7, 2015, 2:54 AM

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Updated 3,373 days ago

Dozens of New Jersey residents enjoying the summer weather along the South River were treated to an up-close view of a bottlenose dolphin.

Environmental officials say the dolphin has been seen swimming in waters several miles inland by the Old Bridge-East Brunswick border for about three days now.

Fish and Wildlife Officer Shannon Martiak says the mammal appears to be in good health and not in any danger. Martiak says the dolphin is smart enough to make its way out to the ocean again.

Martiak says it isn't unusual for dolphins to make their way inland to rivers near the Atlantic.

Jay Pagel, of the Marine Mammals Training Center, says South River usual sees a lot of ocean animals but rarely dolphins.

"It's not something that happens frequently, but this does happen from time to time," he says. "Animals get into these little streams and rivers and creeks."

Pagel says that the dolphin is relatively stress-free in the river for the time being, so experts will take their time figuring out how to get it back into the ocean.

"We basically want to take our time and plan this out very carefully," he says.

Police have been helping to keep people out of the water as well as directing traffic from all the spectators.

The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.