OCEAN CITY, NJ – The body of a male bottlenose dolphin was found on the beach in Ocean City and now the Marine Mammal Stranding Center is trying to determine why.
The center which cares for the Jersey’s Shores many mammal strandings each year have reported 19 bottlenose strandings this season alone.
“We are currently in dolphin season in New Jersey, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center has responded to 19 bottlenose dolphin strandings so far this year,” the MMSC said. “On June 8th, a six-foot long male bottlenose dolphin stranded on the beach in Ocean City. A reason for this dolphin’s stranding cannot be determined until the full results from the necropsy (animal autopsy) have been completed.”
If you see a marine mammal stranded or in distress at the Jersey Shore, contact local police or the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Make sure to keep at least 100 feet away from marine mammals. Interfering with them is against the law in New Jersey.