DEM: 'They found themselves in the middle of a feeding frenzy of dolphins'

Dolphins feeding in Mount Hope Bay are a "sign of a healthy and productive ecosystem," the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management says.

The pod of common dolphins was spotted and videotaped Tuesday by DEM staff members checking water quality for shellfishing, the DEM said in a Facebook post.

"They found themselves in the middle of a feeding frenzy of dolphins and seagulls following a large school of baitfish," the DEM said in the post.

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The dolphins were just north of the Mount Hope Bridge, according to the DEM.

Opening with a playful tone, the post said, "Wowza – that’s somefin you don’t see every day!"

Dolphins are "occasionally observed" in upper Narragansett Bay, the DEM said, and "their presence suggests a healthy and productive ecosystem."

"In 2021, Mount Hope Bay was removed from EPA’s impaired waters list under the Clean Water Act as a result of stringent permitting and long-term investments in pollution abatement infrastructure and practices – sightings like these highlight the marked improvements in water quality that Rhode Island has achieved," the DEM said.

The video was shot by Anthony Crudale, marine biologist with the DEM's Office of Water Resources. Steven Engborg, a senior environmental scientist, was working with him.