FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Biologists are continuing to perform necropsies on eight pilot whales that died in shallow waters off southwest Florida.
Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Services are planning an aerial survey Wednesday morning of the waters off Lee County.
Dozens of pilot whales swam close to shore earlier this week in Lee and Collier counties. Eight whales have died in the waters off Lover’s Key State Park, and officials said six other whales were unaccounted for.
Pilot whales typically live in deep waters far from shore. Biologists say swimming into shore may be a sign that the whales were suffering from some kind of toxicity or disease.
Source: Associated Press
