What appeared to be an Atlantic white-sided dolphin was hauled away from a Cheverie beach in August.
Glenn and Don Ross noticed the dead marine mammal, believed to be a dolphin or porpoise, while working on a cottage overlooking Kip’s Beach.
“We were just working here as the tide was coming in and saw something floating, couldn’t tell what it was. Then after supper, when the tides went out, we went over and checked it and sure enough, dead dolphin,” Glenn recalled.
“I’ve seen schools of them out here playing,” Don added.
The battered corpse had a sizeable gash in its underbelly, and several small cuts. The pair reported the find to the Department of Natural Resources, but the cleanup ended up falling in the hands of the Municipality of the District of West Hants.
The owners of the property overlooking the beach, Clifford and Verna Brison, watched as Burgess hauled what locals deemed to be an Altantic white-sided dolphin to an awaiting flatbed truck, which was destined for a local landfill.
Kings-Hants MP Scott Brison, the son of Clifford and Verna, also lives handy to the beach, where he spends a lot of time swimming and kayaking.
“This summer we had seen the dolphin jumping… and we’ve seen more seals.”
West Hants enforcement officer Gary Lunn had the unenviable task of assisting contractor, Danny Burgess, with the removal of the rotting carcass on Aug. 22. It was the second time Lunn has been called to the beach to deal with an unexpected — and potent smelling — find.
“We had a whale washed up on the beach a few years ago,” he said.
Lunn was in charge of burying the right whale, which, he estimates, was about 25 feet long.
