NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Virginia is seeing a sharp increase in dolphin deaths in its coastal waters.
Media reports say five beached dolphins were found on Thursday. In July alone, nearly four dozen dead dolphins were found. Typically, the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team picks up six or seven in July.
The mammals were found in Norfolk and on the Eastern Shore.
The stranding team says the elevated numbers are reminiscent off the mass deaths that occurred in 1987. More than 750 carcasses washed ashore from New Jersey to Florida.
A measles-like illness was later determined to be the cause.
In Virginia this year, the response team has collected the remains of 87 dolphins. The team typically picks up around 60 dolphins in an entire year.
