Water units are trying to help a bottlenose dolphin finds its way out of the Raritan River in New Brunswick before it becomes beached.

A crowd of spectators gathered at the scene after the dolphin was spotted about 1 p.m. Friday. Officials say while it?s not unusual for dolphins to swim in Raritan Bay, they don?t often venture west up the Raritan River. Marine patrols from the New Brunswick Police Department and firefighters have nicknamed the mammal Dolphin Joe. Officials are keeping a close eye and hope to coax Dolphin Joe to deeper water before the tide goes out, leaving the dolphin beached and in danger.

Marine patrols lost sight of the dolphin after sunset, but hope to be able to better assess the situation Saturday morning.