Dolphins spotted in West River

Occurrence not all that uncommon this time of year

By PAMELA WOOD, Staff Writer

Published 06/24/09

It was quite a sight to see, something more fit for Ocean City than the little south county town of Galesville: Dolphins cavorting in the water.

Courtesy of Kent Roberts Several dolphins jump through the waters of the West River near Galesville on Saturday morning. The group of dolphins caused a stir on the river, with many people watching and snapping photos from aboard boats and from the Galesville pier.

Several people reported seeing dolphins in the West River over the weekend. While it was surprising to many, it's not all that unusual, said Tammy O'Connell, a biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources.

"It's very common," she said. "They're in the bay this time of year."

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) can be found in the Chesapeake Bay from May through September, she said. They are found in the open bay and they also...

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humor - 2009-06-24 23:17:35

I was attempting to make a serious point (about staying away from dolphins), by using a bit of humor. Dolphins, whether wild or not, can be dangerous and people have been killed by them.

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W. Cooke - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Neutral

W. Cooke - 2009-06-24 18:43:03

You have a marvelous grasp of the obvious, don't you? Yes, dolphins are wild animals and can be dangerous to us fragile humans.. Ms. O'Connell from DNR covered that. Stop trying to dumb us all down
Furthermore, with the Reggie thing, let it go man! Sticks and stones... One more thing, I wasn't there, but when I heard that dolphins were seen in the river I fish out of, I was really tickled. It would have been neat to see. I wonder if they were wrangling up some Blues or Rocks.

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eric sacratini - tracy's landing, MD - Karma: Neutral

W. Cooke - 2009-06-24 17:15:07

Ah, so I guess we know what name Tina Schubbie/Reggie Schmoenberg/Willie Lowman is using this week!

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Scott S. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

unfriendly dolphins - 2009-06-24 16:48:17

Despite all of the propaganda we have been fed over the years about these beasts, they are not friendly. Dolphins have been known to kill people for no reason. It is best to keep a safe distance from these things.

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W. Cooke - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Neutral

Great! - 2009-06-24 13:00:21

As a child I remember the dolphins swimming with our boat for miles in the lower Chesapeake.
Beautiful creatures!

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Emma G. - West River, MD - Karma: Neutral

Wonderful!! - 2009-06-24 12:55:09

I am jealous!! I would have loved to see them so close to home! I have seen dolphins numerous times while visiting relatives in more southern states, but never here in MD. It does the heart good to see so many people were enjoying them and treating these wonderful creatures with respect. Thank you to the Capital with such a feel good story!

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Michelle B. - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Neutral