EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, Fla. — Pods of 35 pilot whales slowly swam Thursday into deeper water off Florida’s southwest coast, raising optimism that the strandings of whales on Everglades National Park beaches might soon end on a positive note.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries official Blair Mase said midafternoon Thursday that the three whale pods were 9 miles north of their original location and continuing to move offshore. They were in 18 feet of water about 6 miles offshore, still several miles from the 900-to-1,000 foot depths they usually call home, Mase said.
“They are in deeper water, and they are getting closer to their normal home range,” Mase said. “Even though we are hopeful, this situation could go either way. There is a chance they could come back inshore again.”
Mase said the total of dead whales has reached 11, with five still unaccounted for.
