MERR Institute to examine whale jawbone recovered from Bethany Beach

An unusual marine artifact was discovered Jan. 11 at Sussex Shores in Bethany Beach.

According to officials at the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute in Lewes, it is a 12-foot-long lower jawbone from a species of baleen whale. Its dark color indicates it had been buried somewhere for a while, whether that was on the ocean floor or the beach. MERR staff are pursuing further investigation to try to determine the age and species of the whale it came from.

MERR Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals and sea turtles, and their habitat. MERR provides rescue and response for stranded marine animals throughout the state of Delaware.

For more information, contact the MERR Institute at 302-864-0304 or email merrinstitute@gmail.com, or go to merrinstitute.org.