Oregon wildlife officials are investigating how a young humpback whale that came ashore near Yachats last weekend tangled in crab gear. The whale was ultimately euthanized after roughly 48 hours stranded alive on the sand.

The male juvenile, about 2-3 years old and 30 feet long, washed up just north of Yachats at San Marine State Park beach on Nov. 15 with rope wrapped around its body. Beachgoers cut away the lines, but the whale was too weak to make it back to the ocean. After rescue efforts failed, veterinarians with the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network euthanized it on Nov. 17. The next day, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians held a ceremony, and students and other partner groups helped disassemble the whale and remove it from the beach in sections.

NOAA Fisheries

See Full Page