Officials: 35 pilot whales moving in deeper water

Lynne Sladky / AP

Officials in boats monitor the scene where dozens of pilot whales are stranded in shallow water in a remote area of Florida’s Everglades National Park, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013.

By Christine Armario and Suzette Laboy, Associated Press

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 | 1:13 p.m.

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, Fla. — Pods of 35 pilot whales have been moving into deeper water off Florida's southwest coast, raising optimism that the strandings may soon end on a positive note.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries official Blair Mase said Thursday the three pods were located nine miles north of their original location and moving offshore. They were in 12 feet of water at midafternoon.

Mase says anything can still happen, but officials think the whales have a chance to reach their normal deep-ocean range. She also says the total of dead whales has reached 11 and five are unaccounted for.

The large group of whales was first spotted Tuesday in very shallow water in Everglades National Park. Those that died are being studied for the reasons they beached themselves.