Cape Hatteras National Seashore marine mammal strandings and seal sightings: 2017 summary
Doshkov P. 2018. Cape Hatteras National Seashore marine mammal strandings and seal sightings: 2017 summary. Natural Resource Report. NPS/CAHA/NRR—2018/1732. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore), located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, experiences a high number of marine mammal strandings each year. This includes cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), pinnipeds (seals), and on rare occasions sirenians (manatees). In 2017, 33 strandings were documented, which is below the 10-year average of 53 strandings. Eight species were stranded and the majority of strandings were of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Most strandings occurred on Hatteras Island. Three animals were stranded alive, including a pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and a harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) that were both euthanized and a bottlenose dolphin that died on its own at the stranding site. Given its proximity to the continental shelf, the Seashore continues to be the most likely location of marine mammal strandings, accounting for 59% of all strandings on the Outer Banks and 33% of all North Carolina strandings. Seven animals were documented as having human interaction lesions that may have contributed to the stranding event.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Doshkov, Paul
- Date of Issue
- 2018-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CAHA , NRSS
- Keywords
- mammal monitoring, marine mammals