A bottlenose dolphin was found dead in North Carolina and officials believe that the probable cause of death points to a plastic bag found in its stomach.

Mar. 25, 2025, a large, dead bottlenose dolphin was reported on the banks of Deep Creek in the Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve in Beaufort.

A dolphin in North Carolina died after ingesting a plastic bag. A necropsy found no food in its stomach, only a knotted plastic bag. Experts urge people to reduce plastic use to protect marine life.

The necropsy by the CMAST College of Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff and NC Aquariums staff for CMAST and Duke Marine Lab students revealed the probable cause of death: a large plastic bag ...