Mortality numbers of dolphins in Virginia continue to rise, outpacing yearly averages from the last 25 years.
Over the weekend, the total of deceased dolphins recovered by the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s Stranding Response Team reached 300.
The average rate of annual recovery for the past 10 years has been 65.
NOAA Fisheries declared on August 8th that the dolphin deaths were likely due to a morbillivirus.
Similar to measles in humans and distemper in canines, the virus was also responsible for 750 dolphin deaths in 1987-88.
The virus can spread between dolphins through close air-borne or physical contact but does not affect humans.
The deceased dolphins were primarily located in the Chesapeake Bay but now as waters start to cool and dolphins head further south, more strandings are being reported in the lower Chesapeake Bay and along Atlantic beaches.
The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team has received assistance from other National Marine Mammal Stranding Network members which include: International Fund for Animal Welfare; Smithsonian Institution; The Marine Mammal Stranding Center; University of New England; New England Aquarium; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; and University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Stranding Response staff are working to collect dolphins from the populated beaches as quickly as possible, but warn the public, as with any dead wild animal, do not touch and please wash hands thoroughly if you come in contact with a stranded animal. Residents are asked to call the Stranding Response 24-hour hotline at 757-385-7575 with the exact location of any stranded or dead dolphin, and to be patient as they may not be able to respond immediately.
The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program is largely a volunteer-based group supported by the Virginia Aquarium Foundation through donations from the community, and grant-making organizations.
Related:
Dead dolphins starting to wash up in North Carolina
More dead dolphins wash ashore
Four more dead dolphins wash up in Hampton Roads
25 more dead dolphins washed up over the weekend; Total now 164
Five more dead dolphins wash up in Virginia
Update: 13 more dead dolphins wash up in Virginia; Total now at 100 for the year
Dead dolphins washing up on Virginia beaches at an alarming rate
