BEACH NEWS YOU CAN USE
Covering 180 miles of Oregon coast travel: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Wadport, Yachats & Florence.

It's Fall on the Coast: Summer is Here Again.

Family Fun Nightlife Frivolity Subscribe to BC news RSS Feeds Add BC news to YOUR site

Examination of Beached Northwest Whale Reveals Little So Far

Photos by Seaside Aquarium

(Long Beach, Washington) – The examination of a Humpback whale that washed up near the Oregon coast was finished Saturday morning, with little conclusive evidence so far.

The dead adult female washed ashore on the Long Beach Peninsula earlier this week, just a few miles north of Oregon’s coastline, getting national attention, including segments on CNN. A group called Cascadia Research, based out of Washington State, conducted the examination.

Seaside Aquarium's Keith Chandler next to the whale

The examination did not reveal the cause of death, but additional tests will be conducted of the tissues collected. The whale was first spotted floating off the Long Beach Peninsula on the morning of October 4 by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Service biologists conducting an aerial survey. It washed up later that day. A little over a dozen scientists and students conducted the examination from a number of institutions including Cascadia Research, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Marine Fisheries Service and Washington State Parks assisted by some students and faculty from Portland State University and the University of Puget Sound.

First to respond to the scene were staff at the Seaside Aquarium in Seaside, Oregon, who are part of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network on the north Oregon coast. They turned over the whale to Cascadia Research, about the time swarms of media came in to do stories on the already-odorous creature. (See the previous story, including the live shark that washed up in Seaside)

The whale was 15.3 m long (50 feet). It was difficult to determine how long the whale had been dead, scientists say it was likely at least a few days. The internal organs had begun decomposing and so the whale was very bloated.

A variety of samples were collected during the examination and will be tested in future weeks.

Washington State Parks is coordinating disposal of the whale, which will be buried in coming days.

Individual humpback whales can be identified by the natural markings on the underside of their flukes. Cascadia Research tracks more than 1,600 humpback whales that feed along the US West Coast based on these natural markings butt this whale did not match any of the known individuals Cascadia has catalogued.

Humpback whales remain endangered from whaling that continued through 1966 (including in the US) but appear to have been recovering since then. We estimate about 1,500 humpback whales feed off the west coast of the US including about 200 off the Washington coast. These animals come to these productive waters to feed from spring to fall. In the winter they migrate to warm water breeding and calving areas. Humpback whales from the Washington coast have been documented going to Mexico, Central America, and Hawaii.

Two other strandings of humpback whales have occurred in Washington in the last 10 years both of them along the Washington Coast. Strandings of other large whales particularly gray whales are more common. Because humpback whales feed farther offshore (generally 10-20 miles) many of the animals that die do not end up washing ashore and either decompose or sink at sea.

BREATHTAKING CLIFFTOP IN NEWPORT

STARFISH POINT is located on the Central Oregon Coast - in Newport - and offers only the finest in luxury condominium lodging. At Starfish Point, every unit is focused on the beauty of the sea and the beach.
All of the units boast two bedrooms, two bathrooms, designer kitchens, wireless broadband Internet, fireplaces, Jacuzzi’s and private decks - surrounding you in soothing relaxation. We have a friendly staff dedicated to high quality and superb customer service. 140 NW 48th Street, Newport. (541) 265-3751. (800) 870-7795. www.starfishpoint.com

Weiss' Paradise Suites & Vacation Rentals - Seaside

Unique Luxury Accommodations in Seaside. 1BR Suites, 1BR & 2BR Duplex Units and 3BR Houses, units for 2-8 people. Rent our entire property for 20-26. All units close to beach, river and Broadway St.
Suites are designed for two adults; vacation rental units for families. All units have kitchen and many have fireplace, deck and jetted tub. Enjoy comfy robes & slippers, luxury bath amenities, quality linens and more. See us on The Travel Channel's "Great Escapes" show in August 2006. 741 S. Downing St., Seaside. 800-738-6691. www.SeasideSuites.com

Tradewinds Motel, Rockaway Beach. All rooms at the Tradewinds Motel are immaculate and have TV’s, VCR’s and in-room phones with data ports. The oceanfronts all have a queen bed, a double hide-a-bed, kitchen, cozy firelog fireplace and a private deck. Some oceanfront units come with all those amenities but the kitchens. Both types sleep up to four people. Others are appointed with a queen bed, small fridge, and coffee maker – sizable for a two-person romantic getaway, yet still perfect for those on a budget. There is an elaborate oceanfront Jacuzzi suite that has two bedrooms, coming with a kitchen, double hide-a-bed, fireplace and private deck, sleeping as many as six. For those wanting bigger accommodations for family reunions or large gatherings such as weddings, some rooms can connect to create two-room and three-room suites. Some rooms are pet friendly.523 N. Pacific St., Rockaway Beach. (503) 355-2112 - 1-800-824-0938. www.tradewinds-motel.com