Why Did a Dolphin Wash Up on Folly Beach?

On March 15, 2026 a community member called in a report of a dolphin stranded on Folly Beach, South Carolina. The LMMN team of volunteers and staff were quick to respond. This is the 4th animal to strand in South Carolina this year (2026), with another dolphin reported as entangled in the Charleston Harbor. 

Our team was able to perform a necropsy on the beach to help determine what may have caused this animal to die and strand. This was also a great opportunity to educate not only our volunteers, but also the public, as we had quite the crowd interested in the beach side necropsy. 

Observing the animal's external condition

The animal was a male Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops erebennus) 7.9 feet in length. The animal appeared to be older given its tooth wear and maturity of gonads, although exact age will be determined at a later time through analysis of sampled tooth growth layers. Due to the animal’s state of decomposition, we could not determine if any human interaction caused its stranding. He did have a belly full of fish in the first chamber of the stomach, indicating that the animal had fed relatively soon before death. 

A beach necropsy was performed

The immediate cause of death is unknown. Significant findings include two broken ribs and potential dehydration (as seen evident in multiple organs during the necropsy).

Special thanks to all those who helped with this case: Office Wheat of the Folly Beach Police; LMMN Volunteers (Natasha Viswanathan, Lola Renauer, Jessica Trayhan, Christine Kimball, and Renee Paskoff); and LMMN Staff (Lauren Rust, Cathryn Needleman, and Melannie Bachman)

*All work conducted under the MMHSRP authorization

Grateful to have learned from this animal, and grateful for this team of volunteers!