Dolphin Death Spike in Gulf of Mexico Spurs Investigation (1)

U.S. government scientists are investigating whether freshwater flushing through a Mississippi River spillway is contributing to an unusually high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico.

Nearly 280 bottlenose dolphins have been stranded since Feb. 1 along the coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle—three times the usual number, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said June 14.

All but a handful died, according to NOAA. Mississippi recorded the highest number of strandings, with 121, followed by 87 in Louisiana.

It’s unclear exactly what is killing the dolphins, but NOAA scientists said they were concerned ...