Everyone was working together to save them.”
circumstances of this particular summer evening on St. Simons turned
Brooke and her teenage daughter worked alongside other visitors and
out to be a best-case scenario. Between the incoming tide and the
island residents alike to keep the whales in the water. Under normal
number of beachgoers on site lending a hand, nearly all of the whales
circumstances, the Department of Natural Resources would never
were able to return safely to deeper waters.
encourage bystanders to interact with stranded wildlife, but this was a
Typically when marine mammals strand, they’re alone, and they’re sick
very special situation, said Clay George. “If people hadn’t come together
or injured,” says George. “But pilot whales are so social – if even one
quickly to help, there could have been a very different outcome.”
member of the pod gets sick, the rest of the whales can follow it straight
What started as a casual and relaxing afternoon on a St. Simons
off the cliff.” And follow they did: Pilot whales normally live in deep
Island beach turned into a once-in-a-lifetime experience with memories
water 80 miles or more from the Georgia coast.
to last forever. “At one point, I leaned down toward the head of one of
Thanks to the quick decision making and expertise of first responders
the whales. It looked right at me, and it was as if they knew we were
onsite, the group was able to quickly identify the individual whales that
trying to help,” said Ledford. “It was the most awesome experience!”
were unwell and separate them from the rest of the group. “Cases like
Toward the end of the incident, Clay George reflected on the series of
this are tough because you know most of the whales are probably healthy.
events. “Once things had settled down, the sun was setting and this big
We don’t want to see any animals die, but to lose only three out of fifty is
pod of pilot whales was swimming in the [St. Simons] Sound right off
unheard of,” says George.
the Pier. There were all these people watching, and it was really
Brooke Ledford, vacationing from Tennessee with her family, recalls
beautiful.”
the incredible experience she and her family had, calling it “the best
But there are still a lot of unknowns: What caused this? Would the
vacation ever!” The Ledford family has been visiting the Golden Isles for
whales try to strand again? While so many details continue to remain a
over six years, coming twice each year with their children. “We originally
mystery, officials were heartened to learn the same pod of pilot whales
planned this trip because we wanted to witness the sea turtles hatching.
was spotted five days later, swimming south off the coast of Florida.
We didn’t get to see sea turtles; we saw whales instead!”
“It was a combination of really lucky things that resulted
The family was enjoying a late afternoon out on East
in
most
of the animals making it. It’s an incredibly positive
Beach when the whales began to appear and quickly
Call
story.
If
the circumstances had been different, dozens of
approached the shallow shore. “All of a sudden, it kicked in
1-800-2-SAVE-ME
whales
could
have met their end on the beach that night,”
what was going on,” recalls Ledford. “Old, young, men,
if you encounter
recalls
George.
women, kids – everyone gave it their all to help the whales.
stranded or
injured wildlife.
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