The stranding of six Atlantic spotted dolphins on the north side of the Dauphin Island, Alabama, is the first of its kind in the state of Alabama. The animals, all females, are thought to have been washed ashore alive at a remote marsh location. By the time they were discovered several days later by a paddleboarder, however, none of them had survived.
The responders of the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network assume that the stranding of the offshore living species might have been caused by Hurricane Sally. After being washed into the Mississippi Sound, they are likely to have become disoriented in the Gulf and ended up too close to shore. Similar strandings of offshore species after storm events have frequently been observed before. This idea was further strengthened after the spotted dolphin carcasses had been examined by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Marine Mammal Research Center. “The major finding during examination was nearly empty stomachs, indicating the animals had not eaten in some time. Unfortunately, decomposition of the tissues limits our ability to interpret findings, which happens often with deceased animals in the Alabama heat, and highlights the importance of rapid reporting and response.”
The full report can be found here: https://mynbc15.com/news/local/dauphin-island-sea-lab-reports-historic-mass-dolphin-stranding-after-hurricane-sally
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