Another Dead Whale Stranding, This Time Near Yachats on Central Oregon Coast

Published 04/12/26 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Yachats, Oregon) - The Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network is still in the middle of its response to a dead gray whale found Sunday morning on the central Oregon coast near Tillicum Beach, between Yachats and Waldport. (Above: photo Craig Hayslip, MMSN)

There were originally different reports of whether it was still alive or not when it came to shore, first spotted around 7 a.m. on April 12. Some said they saw it moving but these reports are often just the surf making it look animated by knocking it around.

NOAA Fisheries reported the whale at about 8 a.m., and authorized responders from Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN) were dispatched to assess the situation. By midday, the animal had been identified as a 38-foot adult female. Teams collected measurements and initial biological samples, and documentation photos were taken under federal permit by Craig Hayslip of Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute.

There is no word on what might've been the cause of death.

Jim Rice, head of the MMSN in the region, said this did not fit the same pattern we had been seeing - at least so far.

"It's an adult female gray whale that had been dead for several days," Rice said.. "Early reports on Facebook misidentified it as a live humpback whale. It did not appear emaciated, although it was somewhat bloated and lying on its back so it’s hard to be sure of body condition. I did a preliminary exam on it today and will return for more cutting tomorrow."

Central coast whale scientist Julie Conrad told Oregon Coast Beach Connection that from the photos she could see there were signs it had been attacked earlier in its life, but those wounds had healed.

Hayslip / MMSN

This is the fifth gray whale stranding in the Pacific Northwest recently. Another was in Florence last month, and three either washed up dead or died shortly after along the Washington coast.

Officials are urging beachgoers to keep their distance. See video

“We appreciate members of the public keeping their distance to stay safe and to allow trained responders to do their work,” the Marine Mammal Stranding Network said. “The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits disturbing, injuring, or otherwise harming these animals or collecting their parts.”

NOAA reminds the public that the safest and most effective way to help stranded or deceased marine mammals is to report them and avoid approaching the animals. Strandings of marine mammals or sea turtles along the West Coast can be reported to NOAA’s hotline at 1-866-767-6114.

The number of stranding dead whales in this region has skyrocketed, and the other four all saw signs of malrnourishment while this one has not. For background on the food supply issue See the 2022 article 'Skinny Whales' Remain Issue on Washington / Oregon Coast, But May Be Lessening

Whale in Washington - Cascadia Research Collective

Scientists havs also been dealing with the two deceased whales on the central coast of Washington, and then a third swam up the Willapa River last week and died. More Odd Washington Coast Whale News: Another Seen Inland, Some Necropsy Results - Some results released from the Willapa River whale as another moves inward today

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