Two More Whales Wash Up on Washington Coast This Week: One a Rarity

Published 04/19/26 at 8:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Ocean Shores, Washington) - Two more whales have washed ashore on the Washington coast, making this the 11th gray whale body on Pacific Northwest beaches since late March. The other was a rarer find and an outlier, in terms of the current run of whales. (Photo CRC / WCMMSN)

A Baird's beaked whale hit the sands of Moclips on Friday, according to NOAA spokesman Michael Milstein. The gray whale came ashore at Ocean Shores on Saturday.

Both Milstein and Seaside Aquarium manager Keith Chandler said the Baird's whale was too decayed to perform a necropsy - and it was incredibly stinky and had been dead for quite some time.

The aquarium's Tiffany Boothe managed to snap at least one photo.

It is fairly rare to find one along the Oregon or Washington coast, so this was an oddity and definitely not connected to anything with the run of gray whale deaths up and down the West Coast.

“The Baird's beaked whale was too decomposed for a necropsy, so no obvious cause of death or other details,” Milstein told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “There is a population off the West Coast but they are typically in distant waters, diving deep for long periods, so little is known about them. They have stranded in the Northwest before but rarely. In contrast to gray whales, which feed on bottom sediments primarily in the Arctic, Baird's beaked whales prey on fish, squid and other species off the West Coast.”

Seaside Aquarium

The gray whale in Ocean Shores came up Saturday, becoming the latest in a list of dead grays with similar circumstances that is far too long. That one is being examined by Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) and the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

The CRC has listed seven other grays in Washington since late March (nine if you count all of 2026). With the three in Oregon and the latest in Washington that makes 11 in the Pacific Northwest since March 26 - 13 for the entire year.

“The Ocean Shores whale was an adult male, about 40 feet long.” Milstein told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “No signs of trauma or obvious cause of death. Malnourished but not as emaciated as some others this spring.”

Undernourished gray whales have been stranding on Pacific Northwest beaches in a sizable rush as of late, starting with one in Florence in late March. Three dead grays washed up in Washington later (including one that had wandered into a coastal river), one was found in Yachats and then another in Seaside last week. All six had some or sizable evidence of being too thin, but some of the bodies were too bloated to tell for certain.

Another gray whale wandered into the inland sea of Skagit County, but its fate is unknown at this time.

So why so many whales washing up dead lately?

Now Begins the 'Season of Satellites' Above Oregon, Washington: Summer's Surreal Show - Not even counting meteors, these can create wild colors and streaks

There are two major factors coinciding: the migration brings more of them and there have been a lot of west winds.

Chandler said west winds blow objects onto the Oregon coast and Washington coastline, like all the velella velella that have been seen in recent weeks.

“If a lot of velella come in, whales will wash up too,” Chandler told Oregon Coast Beach Connection.

Baird's Beaked whales - courtesy NOAA

The other large factor is the spring migration. If there are more whales in an area, more of the dead ones will wash up.

The underfed whale issue seems to be prominent in the cause of death, and that has whale experts worried.

In March, the Marine Mammal Stranding Network's (MMSN) Jim Rice talked to Oregon Coast Beach Connection about the whale at Florence.

“We know that lots of gray whales have been stranding along the entire west coast since 2019," Rice said. "The bottom line is that these whales are having a hard time finding enough to eat during their summer foraging seasons in the arctic, causing many of them to become malnourished."

Numerous gray whales have washed up in California lately as well, although the cause of seven of them in the San Francisco Bay area appears to be ship strikes.

For background see the article 'Skinny Whales' Remain Issue on Washington / Oregon Coast, But May Be Lessening

More Odd Washington Coast Whale News: Another Seen Inland, Some Necropsy Results

 

 

Yachats' Adobe Resort: Legacy Oregon Coast Biz, Once a Motel, Shifts Again wi...
Started in the 1950s, now a big name gets bigger. Yachats lodging reviews

New places to stay in the vacation rental realm on N. Oregon Coast
In Neskowin and Pacific City, you'll find a handful of new options. Kiwanda Coastal Properties reviews, Neskowin hotel reviews, Oceanside hotel reviews, Lincoln City hotel reviews, Pacific City hotel reviews, Pacific City vacation rental news

Whistling Winds Motel - Lincoln City Motel
Lincoln City Hotel Reviews: Low room rates: call to check on specials

Keystone Vacation Rentals - Central Oregon Coast
Lincoln City hotel reviews, Depoe Bay hotel reviews. Luxury oceanfront condos are available in Depoe Bay and Lincoln City, including popular resort communities like Village at North Pointe and Pacific Winds. These one- and two-bedroom units are situated directly on the beach or perched at elevated whale-watching viewpoints, often featuring amenities such as private hot tubs, Wi-Fi, access to indoor pools, and even on-site theaters. Most units accommodate up to four guests. Depending on the property, additional highlights may include gourmet kitchens, river rock fireplaces, plasma TVs, in-unit washers and dryers, fitness centers, pool tables, beachside patios, BBQ grills, iPod docking stations, books, games, puzzles, covered parking, cable TV, DVD libraries, massage chairs, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. Some condos also offer access to a conference room. Depoe Bay and Lincoln City. (503) 443-1414.

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

NASA Soon to Announce More Plans of Missions to the Moon, Gamma Ray Research
22 May 2026 at 9:34pm
Announcements day after Memorial Day; more on robotic LINK satellite coming. Astronomy, sciences

World's Largest Creature: Skeleton Assembled and Now Open at Oregon Coast's Hatfield Marine Life Center
22 May 2026 at 9:34pm
New landmark rising in Newport: the fully assembled skeleton of a 70-foot blue whale. Newport events

S. Oregon Coast's North Bend Will Roar This Summer with Its 123rd Celebration
123rd birthday July 17 - 19, 2026, with a full weekend of July Jubilee. Coos Bay events, history

Orcas Literally Leaping in Celebration on Oregon Coast (Video), and Yes, They 'Moonwalked'
2 Jun 2026 at 11:05am
When breaching becomes a killer whale party in the Depoe Bay area. Marine sciences

Oregon Coast Highway 101 Road Conditions, Traffic - Coast Range Passes
22 May 2026 at 9:34pm
Check out all traffic between Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Pacific City, Newport, Florence, Coos Bay, Bandon, Brookings

South Oregon Coast's Food Truck Off and Blackberry Arts Festival Return This Summer
20 May 2026 at 12:34am
Truck-Off August 7 - 9, Blackberry Fest August 22 - 23. Coos Bay events, North Bend events, Charleston events

Free Fishing Weekend All Over Oregon, Coastline
1 Jun 2026 at 10:05pm
Oregon's Free Fishing Weekend returns June 6 - 7, 2026. Brookings events, Gold Beach events, Port Orford events, Coos Bay events, Bandon events, Florence events, Yachats events, Newport events, Lincoln City events, Rockaway Beach events, Manzanita events, Cannon Beach events, Seaside events, Astoria events

One Dead, One Injured in South Oregon Coast Dunes Crash
26 May 2026 at 9:38am
One rider died, 13-year-old boy injured near Coos Bay. Safety

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted