Heavy metals acquired through the food chain as a result of marine pollution are a potential threat to the coastal bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Since toxic heavy metal concentrations can vary considerably among and within species depending on the lifestage and range of the individual, it is important to determine baseline data for a particular species in as many parts of its range and lifestage as possible. Using tissues from dolphins stranded along its coasts, this study aimed to contribute to the provision of such baseline data for the bottlenose dolphins of coastal Florida. The results showed that the concentrations of copper, cadmium and zinc were all within previously reported ranges found in cetaceans in other regions.