Oiled dolphin found near Ft. Pickens

Dolphin died shortly after help arrived

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla (WALA) – The tide isn’t just washing the oil over the beach. Wildlife is starting to feel the impact as well. An oiled dolphin was found beached on the shore.

“It had beached itself. Its sides were covered in a quarter inch of oil. We started splashing water, scraped oil off it sides and off its eyes,” said Christy Travis, who found the dolphin.

Help came immediately from the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, a non-profit organization, and they were able to stabilize the young female. Sadly, she died shortly after. What’s worse, is she may not be the last.

“It was very sad, it would make you cry. It was crying. There was pod of dolphins just off surf and they were jumping out of water and they were making noise,” said Travis. This is the first report of a dolphin found covered in oil on the Florida coastline.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist walked the beaches Wednesday morning as the oil washed in. “To have something like that on such a beautiful place, breaks your heart.” said Crist. “This is the worst, no question. I haven’t seen it like this anywhere else, never this kind of stuff.”

The beach is no longer packed with tourists, instead BP crews are everywhere. They are working by hand, slowly bagging up everything they can. – Christina Leavenworth