Officials offer $20K reward over attacks on dolphins in Florida

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries is offering $20,000 for information leading to an arrest in the shooting and stabbing of dolphins off the Florida coast.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists discovered a dolphin off of Naples last week that appeared to have died from a bullet or puncture wound. Another dolphin was found with a bullet in its side along Pensacola Beach last week, officials said in a release.

NOAA officials also discovered a dead dolphin with a fatal puncture wound to its head off Captiva Island last May.

The agency is offering up to $20,000 for any information leading to a civil penalty or criminal conviction.

Dolphins often approach people and boats, associating them with food, according to the agency, potentially opening them to intentional harm. The agency said not feeding wild dolphins could cut down on the likelihood of such events going forward.

—Updated at 2:33 p.m.