Pilot Whales Dead After Stranding on South Florida Beach

Eight Pilot Whales Dead After Stranding on South Florida Beach

Officials in Southwest Florida report that eight pilot whales who beached themselves along the coast earlier this week have died. They say that an additional half dozen whales from the group are missing.

The U.S. Coast Guard has managed to stop ongoing boat traffic in the waters off of Ft. Myers, Florida, as officials attempt to protect other endangered whales who are struggling in the waters.

The eight dead whales were part of a pod of about four dozen pilot whales who appeared to become disoriented and managed to wander away from their natural deep-water habitat.

Wildlife officials who are monitoring the situation report that they expect more pilot whales to expire, due to their weakened condition and not being able to avoid boat traffic which is heavy in the area. Biologists attempted to help direct the whales back toward deeper water, but many creatures simply returned to the beach.