Calif. dolphin circling wetlands swims its way out

May 7, 2012 4:33 PM

Calif. dolphin circling wetlands swims its way out

A dolphin swims in wetlands at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach, Calif. on Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

(AP) HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - A wayward dolphin that spent more than a week in a Southern California wetlands channel has made its way back to sea.

Marine mammal rescue specialist Peter Wallerstein says a volunteer watched the dolphin leave the Bolsa Chica wetlands and swim into adjacent Huntington Harbour on Friday. It hasn't been seen since.

The 5-foot-long, 250-pound common dolphin was spotted circling in the shallow waters of Bolsa Chica on April 27. Experts said it appeared healthy and may have entered the channel while chasing fish.

A day after it was spotted, the animal was coaxed toward the ocean but apparently became spooked by a pair of fellow dolphins and swam back into the channel.

However, Wallerstein says the dolphin has now left, and he thinks it will do just fine.

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