Jun 25, 2009 9:16 pm US/Eastern
Dolphins Appear Unexpectedly In The Chesapeake Bay
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
-
-
Dolphins are generally seen in aquariums but local boaters say they've spotted them in the waters of The Chesapeake Bay.
CBS
The Chesapeake is a popular human destination, but it's also in the travel plans for dolphins.
Alex DeMetrick reports, the marine mammal that usually calls the Atlantic home, is showing up in Bay Waters.
Heading out into the West River in Anne Arundel County, Mike deRogatis wasn't expecting to do more than pump out the waste tanks of some boats, but then something caught his attention in the water, the sudden appearance of dolphins.
"I'll tell you what it made my day," he says.
Another boater caught managed to catch a few pictures, deRogatis caught the whole show.
"Then I looked over to the side I saw another couple, then I looked around saw another couple, and then I looked further down and saw more. Before it was all done I would guesstimate a couple dozen dolphins all together," he said.
In Ocean City, dolphins and porpoises are often spotted just off shore.
Seeing them in the Bay is not that common, although they are annual visitors to the Chesapeake.
"Usually May to September and they'll come into the area to feed on our diverse species of prey that we have for them," says Jennifer Dittmar, of the National Aquarium.
The Bay has seen visitors more rare than dolphins, fifteen years ago; volunteers and biologists went into the Chester River to coax a manatee to return to its home waters in Florida.
There was worry it would not survive a Maryland winter.
It eventually swam out of the Bay on its own.
Speed is not an issue for dolphins, nor is getting lost usually a problem.
They tend to be excellent navigators, but they are not immune to risk.
"There are risks in the Bay as far as boaters. It's a good idea to stay about 50 feet if you see them," Dittmar adds.
If you're lucky enough to see them Mike deRogatis says.
'Two of them jumped out no more than fifteen feet from the boat, it was quite thrilling," he says.
Somewhere out there that unexpected thrill will surface again.
If you're fortunate enough to spot dolphins in the Bay this summer, experts warn not feed them and above all, don't try swimming with them.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Great NFL Hair
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
