Dolphin washes up on Quogue beach; necropsy planned
Shinnecock Bay, with Dune Road in Hampton Bays on the right, in 2023. A dolphin washed up to the west on a Quogue beach in front of a Dune Road home Tuesday, officials said. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Police are investigating the discovery of a dead dolphin found Tuesday morning after it washed up on a Quogue beach.
Quogue police and the Southampton Town Marine Bureau found the mammal and notified the New York Marine Rescue in Riverhead, after responding to an 8:45 a.m. report of a dolphin in distress on the beach in front of a home off Dune Road.
The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) assumed control of the dolphin's carcass. Marine biologists were performing a necropsy to determine the cause of death and planned to bury the dolphin Tuesday afternoon.
AMSEAS Chief Scientist Robert DiGiovanni said the mammal was an eight-foot common dolphin with no visible signs of trauma. Testing from the necropsy can take several weeks to months, he said.
The organization, which handles dead sea life including whales, dolphins and sea turtles, has responded to 22 dolphins discovered this year, mostly off Long Island. The animals include 11 common dolphins and 11 bottlenose dolphins.
AMSEAS has responded to a total of 139 sea life deaths this year, which matches the trend of previous years, DiGiovanni said. Researchers can respond to up to 200 deaths per year between Montauk and New York City.
He said the discoveries follow increased sightings of dolphins and other sea life in recent years off Long Island.
"This is on par from what we normally see," DiGiovanni said. "As an ecosystem, there's more food here and Long Island once had these animals in large numbers. There's some protections and the population is doing better, so we expect to see more animals here."
Scientists monitoring populations are asking anyone who spots live sea life activity, such as whales or dolphins, to email reports to sightings@AMSEAS.org.
Any sick or injured animals can be reported to the New York State stranding hotline at 631-369-9829.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
'Really, really tough stuff to talk about' In Dec. 2024, an East Patchogue teen went missing for 25 days. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa spoke with reporter Shari Einhorn about the girl, her life, the search and some of Long Island's dark secrets the investigation exposed.
'Really, really tough stuff to talk about' In Dec. 2024, an East Patchogue teen went missing for 25 days. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa spoke with reporter Shari Einhorn about the girl, her life, the search and some of Long Island's dark secrets the investigation exposed.
