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CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR FIRST ISSUE 1971
PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR 40 YEARS
Newstand 75¢
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011
www.campbellrivermirror.com
Volunteers mobilize to rescue dolphins Four of the marine mammals stranded on the mudflats at Oyster Bay PAUL RUDAN CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
Volunteers slogged through the thick mudflats of Oyster Bay Tuesday morning in a valiant effort to save four stranded Pacific white-sided dolphins. “It’s alright, you’re going to be okay,” said volunteer Colleen McClure as she gently stroked one of the dolphins and poured water over its body to keep the skin moist. Another Oyster Bay neighbour, Bob Stoltz was up before 7 a.m., watching the dolphins feeding on fish in the bay...and then the tide went out. Four of the dolphins became stuck on the mudflat, just north of Oyster Bay Shoreline Park. Stoltz trod out onto the flats and then contacted other neighbours who arrived with buckets and a large tarp. By around 9 a.m., more volunteers had arrived to help and various agencies were contacted to assist in the rescue. The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre was contacted and they advised to not move the dolphins and to keep them wet
with sea water. However, with the tide still going out and high tide many hours away, the volunteers made the decision to move the dolphins back out to sea, supporting them with a large tarpaulin. By 9:15 a.m., one of the dolphins was successfully moved back to the Strait of Georgia and efforts continued to save the other three. An hour later, all four dolphins were free. According to the Vancouver Aquarium, “Pacific white-sided dolphins are found throughout the temperate waters of the North Pacific Ocean from Japan to North America, and from the coasts of Alaska down to Baja, Mexico...In Canada, Pacific white-sided dolphins are listed as ‘Not at Risk,’ due to their large population numbers and wide distribution, but in many parts of their range across the North Pacific Ocean, these dolphins are taken both directly and indirectly in fisheries.” For future reference in case any similar type of incident occurs again, the Marine Mammal Incident Reporting Hotline number is 1-800-465-4336.
PAUL RUDAN/THE MIRROR
Colleen McClure pours water over one of four Pacific white-sided dolphins Tuesday morning after they were feeding in Oyster Bay and were stranded in the mud flat after the tide went out around 7 a.m. More volunteers showed up later to help get the dolphins back out to sea.
Come out and try our selection of kayaks! July 11&16 Demo Days: All donations to the Campbell River Head Injury Support Society
July 11, 16, Aug, 13, Aug 20, Sept 3
Further info: 250-286-1184 | christine@outdooraddictions.ca
1980 Island Highway » Campbell River » 250-286-1184 » www.outdooraddictions.ca
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