Latest on Oregon Coast Humpback Whale: Rescue Fails, Euthanized

Published 11/17/25 at 7:55 a.m. - Updated 4 p.m., 11/17/25
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Yachats, Oregon) – LATEST UPDATES NOON, MONDAY. Officials dealing with the whale attempting to use a pulley system to rescue have admitted the rescue has failed. The whale, according to the Hatfield Marine Science Center, had not made it out into the water and high tide.

They have announced euthanasia is the only option left. The animal is suffering greatly with its organs getting crushed outside its watery environment.

No word on when that happens,

On Saturday evening, a juvenile humpback whale ended up in the surf on the central Oregon coast, creating an overnight furor as dozens showed up to try and help any way they could. The distressed whale was entangled in some sort of crabbing or fishing line and was quite possibly injured, certainly greatly weakened by its ordeal. (Photo Oregon State Parks)

Through into at least 8 a.m. Sunday, area residents poured into the beach at Yachats' San Marine area, braving cold, sizable waves and the danger of a whale rolling onto someone – occasionally trying to push the whale back out or keep it wet. (See Sunday's original story)

A day full of different stories from online posts later, the latest on the whale appears to be a combination of whale groups are attempting another rescue using a pulley system early Monday, but the whale is not expected to live.

It is still alive as of 7 a.m.

As of 8:45 a.m.

According to Stephanie Knowlton of Oregon State Parks:

"The West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network is coordinating the response. They are using a block and pulley system to try and free the whale at high tide this morning. There are two other groups also responding: SR3 and Cascadia Research Collective – both out of Washington."

Knowlton reiterated the public should stay clear of the work being done.

From Oregon State Parks Central Coast District Manager Preson Phillips: “The whale is still grounded as of now. It was given IV fluids overnight and covered in blankets to cool it. Numerous groups have come together and arranged a pulley system that is orienting and pulling the whale toward the ocean. Hopefully, this combined with buoyancy from high tide (10am) will enable it to swim away.”

Story Continued.....

Oregon State Police (OSP) became involved at various points, trying to ease parking congestion on Highway 101 and then when morning came having to shoo people away from the whale.

- Yachats Maps and Virtual Tours

Overnight, the situation changed dramatically at times, with a variety of posts online – but largely only from influencers and not actual reporters. Calls for more volunteers went out in spite of the clear message this was a dangerous endeavor.

No officials from OSP or groups like Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN) were around to respond in the early hours, so stories varied widely even with the same video.

Just before 8 a.m., Oregon Coast Beach Connection received first word from officials. OSP said "OSP is on-scene and advising people to remain clear of the animal."

Michael Milstein, of NOAA / Marine Mammal Stranding Network, told Oregon Coast Beach Connection:

“NOAA Fisheries is working with West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network partners to respond to a live entangled humpback whale that stranded on the beach near Yachats, Oregon on November 15. We are assessing the situation with trained and authorized responders. We appreciate the assistance of Oregon State Parks, and we ask onlookers to stay a safe distance from the whale so trained responders can access and assist the animal as possible.”

Once the public was told to leave the beaches and no new videos were coming from influencers, social media was flooded with more venomous comments than facts. Many were outraged over unsubstantiated claims that no experts had shown up, or rumors that the group trying to help with the pulleys were here to euthanize the whale.

In fact, at least three groups of experts were on the beach.

Early on Sunday, they began to arrive, and OSP – along with numerous state and federal authorities – pleaded with the public to stay away from the whale. Among them, Whale Research EcoExcursions owner Carrie Newell, who took blood samples of the whale and assessed the situation. Twice during the day she issued statements to leave the whale alone.

Also on scene were experts from Oregon Coast Aquarium and from Washington State.

See video of the whale stranding.

“The humpback is a wild animal and please, under no circumstances, approach the whale,” she wrote. “Not only is this endangering your life but it is also causing stress to the animal.”

It is also illegal to touch a marine mammal.

Newell estimated it at 20 – 30 tons. She said it had a crabbing line caught in its mouth, which has been determined was not a commercial piece.

Early on in the overnight hours, Julie Conrad with the Oregon Coast Killer Whale Monitoring Program (and a coastal resident) was the lone voice in the wilds of the internet asking people to stay away during the volunteer frenzy. As dawn came, other officials said the same.

Conrad said euthanasia might well be the only option if this drags on too long: the whale is suffering badly and there's not much that can be done with moving a whale out into the water once it's stuck.

Whale researchers say this move almost never works.

See photos, reports at Discover Depoe Bay

While Newell noted the whale's chances were not good, her most recent statement said she is “hoping for a miracle” from the group poised to use the pulley and rope system.

Oregon Coast Beach Connection will have updates later - when they become available and not before. Check back here periodically during the day.

A similar incident happened in 2019: Baby Whale on Oregon Coast Did Not Make High Tide, Is Euthanized

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