Scientist: Baby dolphin deaths not unprecedented

A federal scientist says a surge of baby bottlenosed dolphin deaths has a precedent four years ago in Texas.

In March 2007, 68 dolphins washed up in Galveston and Jefferson counties. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist Blair Mase says those included an unusual number of infants.

NOAA spokeswoman Kim Amendola says that this year, 29 dolphins stranded in Mississippi and Alabama, and 23 were calves. Including the Florida panhandle and Louisiana, the totals are 48 and 29.

Possible causes include cold winter and disease. Scientists also are investigating whether there was a link to the BP oil spill. But they say only one dolphin species — and no other kind of animal — appears to be dying in unusual numbers. Read more at www.nola.com