Latest news with #SeasideAquarium
Miami Herald
17 hours ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Cause of death revealed for 53-foot sea creature that washed up on Oregon beach
A 53-foot sea creature washed ashore after it was reported dead off the coast of Oregon. Now researchers know how it died. The adult male sperm whale washed ashore 12 miles north of Seaside between Del Ray and Sunset Beach, according to a June 1 Instagram post by Seaside Aquarium. The whale was spotted floating before it eventually washed ashore May 29, according to a June 3 Facebook post by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries West Coast. There were two angled and paralleled cuts across the top of the whale's head, officials said. After performing a necropsy and seeing 'trauma with several vertebrae exposed and twisted,' researchers determined the whale died because it was hit by a vessel, officials said. Sperm whales can reach lengths of 60 feet long and weigh in at over 40 tons, the Seaside Aquarium said. They are classified as an endangered species and can live up to 60 years. They feed on squid, sharks and fish, officials said. The whale will remain on the beach and decompose over time, as eagles and coyotes have the 'ability to feed on this whale for quite some time,' officials said. Seaside is about an 80-mile drive northwest of Portland.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Huge 50ft beast from the depths of the ocean washes up on Oregon coast
A 50-foot giant from the depths of the Pacific Ocean has washed up on the Oregon coast. The massive creature - a 53-foot male sperm whale - was found ashore north of about 84 miles west of Portland, its barnacle-scarred body lay battered and still. According to a Facebook post from the Seaside Aquarium in Seaside, Oregon, the sprawling whale washed ashore between Del Rey and Sunset Beach on the afternoon of May 29. When marine experts discovered the beached behemoth, they said its 'spine showed signs of blunt-force trauma and hemorrhaging' consistent with a fatal collision at sea. A necropsy was conducted on Monday by the Cascadia Research Collective, the Seaside Aquarium and Portland State University to help in determining the whale's cause of death. 'During the necropsy, damage to the vertebrate was visible along with signs of hemorrhage. This helped the team determine that this whale was struck by a vessel,' the Seaside Aquarium said. However, the dead whale had been spotted long before it washed ashore. According to the aquarium, the whale was initially reported dead on May 25, around 15 miles offshore. Four days later, on May 27, it was seen again - this time only seven miles from land, according to the Seaside Aquarium. 'The whale will be left on the beach to decompose naturally,' the post added. The natural decomposition process offers a rare chance for beachgoers to witness one of the ocean's giants up close. It also provides a nutrition boost to the surrounding ecosystem. Scavengers such as turkey vultures, bald eagles and even coyotes will have access to the whale's remains for weeks or even months to come. The Seaside Aquarium has since warned onlookers not to touch the giant sea creature. The enormous whale's spine showed signs of blunt-force trauma and hemorrhaging consistent with a fatal collision at sea 'Please remember to look - but do not touch. Marine mammals may spread potential diseases to humans and pets,' the aquarium wrote. Male sperm whales can grow to nearly 60 feet in length and weigh over 40 tons. They are known to live up to 60 years, with males maturing around the age of 50, typically reaching about 52 feet. Their diet includes deep-water species such as squid, sharks, skates, and fish. While their population is slowly recovering, sperm whales remain listed as endangered.
USA Today
3 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Sperm whale found dead on Oregon coast believed to have been struck by vessel
Sperm whale found dead on Oregon coast believed to have been struck by vessel Show Caption Hide Caption Beached sperm whale is humanely euthanized Euthanasia for a whale washed ashore in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, has been determined the "most humane option." An adult sperm whale washed ashore on the Oregon coast last week, and according to a necropsy conducted by researchers, it could have been hit by a vessel. According to a Facebook post from the Seaside Aquarium in Seaside, Oregon, the nearly 53-foot whale washed ashore between Del Ray and Sunset Beach some 84 miles west of Portland on the afternoon of May 29. But the dead whale had been spotted long before it washed ashore. According to the aquarium, the whale was reported dead on May 25, around 15 miles offshore, and then seen seven miles offshore on May 27. A necropsy was then conducted by the Cascadia Research Collective, the Seaside Aquarium and Portland State University, the post said. "During the necropsy, damage to the vertebrate was visible along with signs of hemorrhage. This helped the team determine that this whale was struck by a vessel," the post said. Officials continued, saying that the whale will be left on the beach to continue decomposing in order to provide "nutrition" to the local ecosystem. "This will provide not only an opportunity to see this large whale but also provide a nutrition boost to the local ecosystem. Scavengers such as turkey vultures, bald eagles, and even coyotes will have the ability to feed on this whale for quite some time," the post said. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sperm whale hit by vessel, washes ashore near Seaside
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A 53-foot sperm whale, which was struck by a vessel, washed ashore north of Seaside on Thursday afternoon, days after it died, the Sunday. The adult male was first reported dead on May 23 about 15 miles offshore. Four days later, the whale was about 7 miles offshore. Once it washed ashore between Del Ray and Sunset Beach, officials were able to do a necropsy that revealed the whale died after being hit by a vessel. The whale will stay on the beach to decompose and 'provide a nutrition boost to the local ecosystem,' authorities said. The whale will provide food for turkey vultures, bald eagles and coyotes 'for quite some time.' Astoria police wear 'The Goonies' patches in honor of Oregon film's 40th anniversary However, people should stay away from the whale. 'Marine mammals may spread potential diseases to humans and pets,' the Seaside Aquarium said. Though authorities said the whale was an adult male, they did not provide an estimated age. However, these male sperm whales can reach 60 feet and more than 40 tons while living up to 60 years. Males mature around 50 with a length of about 52 feet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- CBS News
Baby seal found stabbed multiple times on Oregon beach; search underway for suspect
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is searching for the person who stabbed a baby seal multiple times on a beach in Oregon. The seal survived the March attack in a cove in the small town of Neskowin, which sits along the Pacific Ocean, NOAA said Monday. The administration's marine stranding team was able to move it to a more secluded beach in Washington state last month. Its wounds were healing, it had grown to about 300 pounds and there were no signs that the stabbing was going to have "lasting effects," Michael Milstein, a spokesperson for NOAA Fisheries West Coast region, said in an email. This April 2025 photo provided by Seaside Aquarium shows a baby seal who the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said was stabbed on an Oregon beach in March. Tiffany Boothe / AP The agency's law enforcement office, which is investigating the attack, was searching for a "person of interest" spotted by a witness. NOAA released a sketch of the person, describing him as a white man with a groomed beard and a large gap between his front teeth. Officials were also looking for the owner of a vehicle seen in a parking lot near the cove behind a condominium building that may be connected with the Sunday evening attack, according to NOAA. The agency described the vehicle as a dark blue 1990s Dodge or Chrysler van, adding that a rear window was covered in plastic and the interior of the van appeared to be cluttered. Officials are asking anyone with information on the person of interest, vehicle owner or attack to call NOAA's enforcement hotline. In the spring and summer, juvenile elephant seals will often drag themselves onto Oregon's beaches to spend weeks shedding their hair and skin, according to Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute. Adult elephant seals are rarely seen in the state. The seal that was stabbed likely left its mother very recently and was on its own to learn to hunt, Milstein said. Once it had grown a bit more, it would have likely made its way back to breeding areas around the Channel Islands off Southern California. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is searching for the person who stabbed a baby seal multiple times on a beach in Oregon. NOAA released a sketch of a person of interest. The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild elephant seals and other marine mammals. Violators can face criminal penalties of up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail. Last year, a bottlenose dolphin was found shot to death on a Louisiana beach, prompting authorities to offer a $20,000 reward.
