Anderson writes: "Now, NOAA said dolphins are dying, but they don't know why. More than 300 bottlenose dolphin have washed ashore on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico since February. It has prompted NOAA to issue an 'Unusual Mortality Event.'"
Bottlenose dolphin washed ashore in the Gulf of Mexico. (photo: AP)
300 Bottlenose Dolphin Have Washed Up Dead on Shores of Gulf of Mexico. NOAA Not Sure What's Causing It.
18 October 19
Earlier this week, sea turtles washed ashore on Sanibel from red tide.
arlier this week, sea turtles washed ashore on Sanibel from red tide.
Now, NOAA said dolphins are dying, but they don't know why. More than 300 bottlenose dolphin have washed ashore on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico since February. It has prompted NOAA to issue an 'Unusual Mortality Event.'
The mortality rate is three times higher than usual, and although NOAA is unable to determine exactly why, they said several dead dolphins show signs of freshwater exposure.
Closer to home, the reason for dolphin mortality is different. NOAA has monitored dolphins off the coast in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties dying from red tide since July 2018.
At least one dolphin died from red tide off the coast of Collier County in June.
Although the two dolphin mortality events are unrelated, NOAA said it's important for people to know what to do if they come in contact with a stranded dolphin.
Don't push it back to sea. It could be injured or sick. If it dies far from shore, it may take weeks for scientists to find it and impossible to determine what caused it to get sick.
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