Fin Whale dies near Bellingham
Following a devastating spring for marine mammals along the Pacific coast, another tragic stranding has occurred in Washington waters.
On Tuesday, response teams were called to Samish Island near Bellingham, where a fin whale had stranded on a local gravel beach.
According to NOAA Fisheries West Coast, the subadult male whale initially washed ashore alive on Monday night.
However, by the time experts from the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Cascadia Research Collective, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife were en route to the scene, the whale had perished.
The fin whale—the second-largest animal on Earth, surpassed only by the blue whale—measured just over 61 feet long and weighed an estimated 40 tons.
The whale’s overall condition had significantly deteriorated, and the animal was severely emaciated.
This alarming detail echoes the widespread malnutrition seen in recent gray whale strandings, serving as yet another stark local reminder of the broader ecological crisis playing out across our coastlines.
Because of the sheer size of the 40-ton creature, responders noted that options for moving or freeing stranded fin whales are extremely limited.
Following a necropsy to learn more about the specific causes of its decline, the carcass will be left on the beach to decompose naturally, re-entering the ecosystem.
What the Public Can Do
As wildlife officials brace for more potential strandings, they continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and maintain a respectful distance.
Live stranded animals can be incredibly dangerous and unpredictable and only trained responders should ever approach or attempt to intervene to help large whales onshore.
If you encounter a stranded, injured, or dead marine mammal on the beach or in the water, please do not approach or touch the animal. Instead, immediately report the sighting to the Stranding Network Hotline at 1-866-767-6114.