Bottlenose Dolphin With Shark Wounds Washes Up in Deal, New Jersey

• Marine Rescuers Forced to Euthanize Dolphin Due to Severe Injuries

• Experts: Shark Bites Likely Happened While Dolphin Was Still Alive

• Sad Scene on Shore: Injured Dolphin Euthanized After Shark Attack

Authorities are investigating an incident that left an injured dolphin washed up on a Monmouth County, New Jersey, beach this week.

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Officials are pointing to a possible "shark attack" for the injuries a bottlenose dolphin incurred during a recent altercation between sharks and dolphins here at the Jersey Shore.

According to Patch, "A bottlenose dolphin was euthanized on Sunday after it was found with shark bites covering its body on a beach in Deal, according to a report from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC). Deal Police received a call about the dolphin at 6:14 p.m. on Sunday, Captain William Hulse told Patch."

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According to Officials, Reps from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said they found "numerous shark bites all over [his] body, several of which were quite severe."

According to Patch, officials say this year so far (2025), there have been 18 bottlenose dolphin strandings. In addition:

• Eight common dolphins
• Three striped dolphins and two unknown dolphins
• Two unknown dolphins

Have you encountered dolphins this summer so far, here at the Jersey Shore (2025)? Have you had any shark encounters? Both marine animals are often spotted here in the waters off New Jersey. Let us know where and how your encounter occurred; we'd love to hear your reports.