Dead Humpback Whale Washes Ashore on Mad River Beach

A male humpback whale that washed ashore on Mad River Beach was spotted by beachgoers early Friday morning after being seen floating offshore a day earlier, according to Cal Poly Humboldt’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Program said the whale was first reported floating offshore Thursday and came ashore Friday morning. Researchers plan to respond today to examine the animal, but the whale is in an advanced state of decomposition, which could make it hard to determine how it died.

“It is best for people and pets to maintain a safe distance from the whale,” Dawn Goley, director of the program and a professor of zoology at Cal Poly Humboldt, said in an email Friday morning.

Goley said the team will share what they learn once the assessment is complete.

Anyone who spots the whale is asked to keep people and pets away and let researchers do their work. NOAA Fisheries recommends staying at least 100 yards back from any stranded marine mammal, dead or alive, since disturbing the carcass can interfere with the investigation and marine mammals are protected under federal law even after death.

Dead or stranded marine mammals in Del Norte, Humboldt and northern Mendocino counties can be reported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 707-826-3650 or [email protected]. Sightings outside the North Coast can be reported to NOAA’s West Coast Region Stranding Hotline at 1-866-767-6114.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.