Four dolphins found dead on Petit Bois Island in Mississippi

Four dolphins were found dead on a Mississippi beach this weekend, according to a Facebook post from the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS).

The dolphins, identified as pantropical dolphins, died after becoming stranded in the sand of Petit Bois Island.

The species is rarely seen in Mississippi waters and generally inhabits deeper waters. So IMMS found it surprising to find four together on one of the barrier islands.

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The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) reported that four dolphins were discovered washed up on the beach over the weekend. (Institute of Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS))

Staff responded quickly and collected photographs and tissue samples before transporting the animals for further analysis by the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine veterinary team.

The team is working to determine the cause of the dolphins' deaths.

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The dolphins, identified as pantropical spotted dolphins, are rarely seen off the Mississippi coast due to the depth of the water. (Institute of Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS))

IMMS thanked the responsive person who discovered the dolphins on the beach.

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“We are grateful to the person who reported the dolphins to us. If you ever encounter a stranded dolphin or sea turtle, please call our stranding hotline at 1-888-SOS-DOLPHIN (1- 888-767-3657),” the message read.