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Dolphins Guided Back To Sea Off Cape Cod

Animal rescue teams are on standby after herding nearly 200 dolphins away from Sandy Neck Beach in West Barnstable.

The dolphins can become stranded if they're too close to the shore during low tide, according to Shawna Moos of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

"We think it has to do with the topography because Cape Cod is a hook," Moos said. "And then Wellfleet Harbor is a hook within the hook, so we think that's a confusing landform for the animals. Then also you have some pretty dramatic tide drops there."

On Saturday, small boats herded 39 common dolphins out of shallow water near Thumpertown Beach in Eastham.

One dolphin died after eight were stranded in Eastham on Aug. 18. Two days later, six dolphins became stranded in Wellfleet Harbor and two died.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom

This program aired on September 2, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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