2 dolphins die on SC coast; biologist investigates - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) - A biologist is investigating the deaths of 2 bottlenose dolphins this week in the May River near Bluffton.

Jimmy McIntire of Bluffton was fishing from his boat Tuesday when he noticed a dead dolphin floating in the water. McIntire says it appeared to have been bitten by a shark. That dolphin's body has not been recovered.

Later the carcass of a badly decomposed dolphin was found downstream.

Wildlife biologist Wayne McFee says the deaths are investigated to see if mammals died because of interaction with people - such as being hit by a boat - or from some sort of disease.

About 50 dead dolphins are found along the South Carolina coast each year.

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