Jogger finds stranded dolphin at Ala. wildlife refuge after Tropical Storm Ida

Dolphin stranded in Ala. after Tropical Storm Ida

GULF SHORES, Ala. — An Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is being treated for dehydration and pneumonia after it was found stranded following Tropical Storm Ida’s brush with the Alabama coast.

A jogger at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores found the 190-pound dolphin on land Tuesday morning shortly after the storm hit. It had been stranded for many hours.

Refuge Manager Jereme Phillips says the dolphin is being treated at The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss.

Institute executive director Moby Solangi says the dolphin will be returned to the sea if it fully recovers but will be given to an aquarium if it isn’t strong enough to return to the Gulf.