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Dead Humpback Whale Washes Ashore At Assateague Island

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By Compiled From N... - January 17th, 2023

Dead whale at Assateague Island National Seashore/NPS, K. Means

For the second time in less than three weeks a dead humpback whale has washed ashore in the National Park System, this time at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland.

A release from the seashore Tuesday said the dead whale was found Monday morning. The whale, roughly 20 feet long, was discovered in the seashore's Maryland Oversand Vehicle Area. The OSV is currently closed at the 21.8 KM mark to allow the whale to be safely dealt with.

Park Service staff at Assateague Island immediately contacted the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Stranding Response Program, the lead agency for stranding response in the state of Maryland. MD-DNR consults with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) and partners with other agencies such as the National Aquarium and Smithsonian Institution. As a land manger, Assateague Island National Seashore is responsible for carcass retrieval and ultimately, disposal.

A necropsy was planned for Tuesday by staff from the Stranding Response Program and the National Aquarium. Park staff said there were no obvious signs pointing to a cause of death. National Park Service staff will use heavy equipment to move the whale to the upper part of the beach. After the necropsy is completed, it will be moved into the dunes and allowed to dry out prior to its eventual burial. All parts of the animal are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Visitors who come across the whale should keep a distance and keep any dogs leashed. The carcass will smell for a while, but previous experience shows that the smell will not be a problem more than 50 yards or so from the actual location. 

Back on December 28 another dead humpback was found at Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina.

Humpback whales can reach an average size of 49-52 feet in length, according to the Marine Mammal Center, and can weigh 50,000-80,000 pounds as mature adults.

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