Adopt Bottlenose Dolphin/State Marine Mammal.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 15

Short Title: Adopt Bottlenose Dolphin/State Marine Mammal. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Hanig (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
January 30, 2025
*S15-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ADOPTING THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN A S THE STATE MARINE 2
MAMMAL. 3
Whereas, bottlenose dolphins are marine mammals that are abundant along North 4
Carolina's coastline; and 5
Whereas, bottlenose dolphins have a short, thick beak and a curved mouth, giving the 6
appearance that they are always smiling; and 7
Whereas, bottlenose dolphins are usually gray in color and can range in length from 8
6 to 13 feet long; and 9
Whereas, bottlenose dolphins are social animals that travel in groups of 10-15, called 10
"pods"; and 11
Whereas, bottlenose dolphins produce high -pitched clicks, called "echolocation," to 12
help them navigate and find food; and 13
Whereas, bottlenose dolphins can swim speeds of over 20 miles per hour, dive as deep 14
as 800 feet below the surface, and can launch themselves up to 15 feet out of the water; and 15
Whereas, the State of North Carolina does not have an official State marine mammal; 16
Now, therefore, 17
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 18
SECTION 1. Chapter 145 of the General Statut es is amended by adding a new 19
section to read: 20
"§ 145-52. State marine mammal. 21
The bottlenose dolphin is adopted as the official marine mammal of the State of North 22
Carolina." 23
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. 24