Juvenile humpbacks freed from Fire Island sandbars after hourslong stranding
The two young humpback whales, which were stranded off the Fire Island National Seashore, are now swimming freely again, according to NOAA.
Two young humpback whales are back in the Atlantic Ocean after spending hours stranded on sandbars off Fire Island National Seashore on Wednesday.
The juvenile whales became stuck during the morning's low tide in waters between Saltaire and Ocean Bay Park while reportedly feeding in the area. Rescue crews believe shifting sandbars, possibly created by the recent nor'easter, contributed to the animals becoming trapped.
A large response effort was launched involving the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the U.S. Coast Guard, Suffolk police, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies.
Throughout the day, responders monitored the whales and provided supportive care while waiting for water levels to rise with the incoming tide. Crews worked from the shallow waters around the sandbars and used hoses to keep the animals wet and cool as they awaited an opportunity to swim free.
"It helps if the animal is wet most of the time because it is still hot and dry on the sand bar," said Rob DiGiovanni, executive director of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. "We were in maybe 3 feet of water. In other cases, it can be dry all around them."
One whale was stuck from about 10 a.m. to noon. The other remained stranded from about 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
According to NOAA, both whales are swimming freely again.
