High Numbers Of Dead Dolphins On East Coast

Scientists along the East Coast are alarmed and puzzled by the number of dead bottlenose dolphins that have been washing up on beaches from Virginia to New York.

At least 91 dolphins washed up in July alone. Compare that to just nine last year, and 16 the year before.

There’s no word yet on what’s causing the increase.

It appears that four had been sick with pneumonia and one died of morbillivirus, which killed hundreds of dolphins along the East Coast in the 1980s.

Jenn Dittmar, the stranding coordinator for the National Aquarium in Baltimore joins us to discuss the possible causes of this year’s epidemic.

Guest

• Jenn Dittmar, stranding coordinator for the National Aquarium in Baltimore. She tweets @jenndittmar.

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