Wellfleet harbormasters save the whale

But a few dolphins trapped in harbor

Rescue worker Katie Touhey of IFAW tended to one of the four dolphins released at Herring Cove near Provincetown yesterday. (DAVID G. CURRAN)

A 35-foot minke whale paid a visit yesterday morning to Wellfleet's inner harbor and was in danger of becoming trapped in shallow waters, but a small boat was able to lead it out to sea, the town's assistant harbormaster said.

"It was absolutely beautiful," said Mike May of the whale, which was first sighted near the harbormaster's office. He said he and the harbormaster called the International Fund for Animal Welfare or IFAW, an animal advocacy group that aids in whale rescues, "but that was taking too long, so we got in our little boat and got it to follow us out of the harbor."

Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whale family, which includes the blue and humpback whale. Northern minke whales are found throughout the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Also yesterday, four to six dolphins were trapped in Wellfleet's inner harbor. The dolphins were spotted yesterday by representatives of the IFAW, but at the time were deemed to be in no danger, said Misty Niemeyer of the IFAW.

Shortly after the minke whale left the harbor, it appeared the dolphins had become stranded and four soon beached themselves. Rescuers with the organization were able to load them onto stretchers and take them to their vehicles at around 11 a.m.

The IFAW conducted blood work, gathered general health information, and determined that the dolphins were healthy. The animals were then transported to Herring Cove near Provincetown, where they were released. One dolphin was fitted with a satellite tag to be monitored by the New England Aquarium, Niemeyer said.

Wellfleet's inner harbor is dangerous for large marine mammals because at low tide, there is little water deep enough for the animals to survive in, May said.