Video shows dolphin at Bennetts Creek in Suffolk

NOTE: The video above, courtesy of Ford Legarda, shows a dolphin in Bennetts Creek in Suffolk.

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Video sent in by a WAVY 10 viewer shows a dolphin making its way to Bennetts Creek in Suffolk.

In the video, taken by Ford Legarda, the dolphin can be seen breaching several times nearby the pier at Bennetts Creek. Legarda said he spotted the dolphin on Monday around 7p.m.

Kristina Hedgepeth, Public Relations Manager with the Virginia Aquarium, told 10 On Your Side that while it is not always common to see dolphins come up to shallow inshore waters, the sight is not unusual.

“Given dolphins are offshore animals, it is not relatively common to find them in shallow inshore waters, but it is not unusual or concerning,” Hedgepeth said. “They may do so to search for food or otherwise. In these cases, the animal can likely make their way back to the deeper water on their own, and our team will monitor the animal’s condition and make sure it doesn’t get stranded.”

Hedgepeth said the aquarium’s Stranding Response team is able to respond to marine mammals or sea turtles all across the coast of Virginia that may appear distressed or injured.

“The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response team responds to marine mammals and sea turtles across all of Virginia,” Hedgepeth said. “This includes 7,000 coastal miles.”

Hedgepeth also said that while the dolphin sighting at Bennetts Creek doesn’t necessarily mean it is in distress, people are able to contact the Stranding Response hotline at 757-385-7575 if they are unsure.

The Stranding Response team stated they will continue to monitor the dolphin found in Bennetts Creek.