Federal officials say six pilot whales have died after stranding in shallow water in a remote area of Everglades National Park.

Blair Mase of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says 46 whales are swimming in about 3 feet of water. Volunteers were keeping an eye on the whales Wednesday.
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© WPTV West Palm, Fla/via News Distribution Network Pilot whales stranded in Everglades National Park

Mase says the whales are short fin pilot whales that are known to inhabit deep water, "so they are very out of their home range."

On Tuesday, officials found the whales beached or stranded in a remote area of the park near Highland Beach in northern Monroe County.

Mase says pilot whales usually swim in large groups and are one of the most common mass strandings "because they are a cohesive species."

Source: The Associated Press