Does our environment speak to us when things are going astray? According to biologists in Louisiana, yes. And the message that’s being sent is as sad as it is gruesome — dolphins dying at alarming rates. Check out this canary in the coal mine story from the mouth of the Mississippi River.
And why does this matter in Minot and North Dakota and what are the culprits? Just this week we published a story on the downstream impacts of agricultural activity — particularly excessive nutrient loading that results from over fertilizing fields; this is one ingredient biologists believe contributes to increased dolphin mortality.
This also matters because much of North Dakota drains through this same river delta; you’ll read more about Souris River nutrient loads and our downstream impacts tomorrow.
