Bottlenose Dolphins in New Jersey

About 15 bottlenose dolphins entered NewJersey rivers a while back, and the state is considering plans to attempt to move the 7 to 10 remaining dolphins back out to sea. Bottlenose dolphins can tolerate living in fresh water for a while, but it eventually causes problems for their skin and eyes. The fairly rapid decline in numbers of the dolphins who entered those New Jersey rivers shows that they are not doing too well there.

The plans to move the dolphins mentioned involve an aversive treatment (lining up boats to drive the dolphins out) and an appetitive treatment (using projected dolphin sounds to lure them towards the salt water). For the planners, it should be noted that combining the two would likely not be a bad thing.

Wesley R. Elsberry

Falconer. Interdisciplinary researcher: biology and computer science. Data scientist in real estate and econometrics. Blogger. Speaker. Photographer. Husband. Christian. Activist.