A dead whale floating off the San Diego County coast today turned a routine beach day into something closer to a nature documentary. Lifeguards and state park officers moved quickly to tow the carcass back out to sea, while authorities warned swimmers and surfers to steer clear as scavengers, including sharks, closed in on the scene.
Beached carcass towed near San Elijo
City of Encinitas officials said a whale that washed up at San Elijo State Beach was confirmed dead and pulled offshore early Monday. The carcass now sits about 400 yards from the shoreline, with birds and other animals circling the body as it drifts. In response, officials issued a shark advisory and urged people to stay out of the water for several days, according to Patch.
Sighting off Black's Beach
San Diego Fire-Rescue lifeguards also reported spotting what appears to be a separate dead whale floating two to three miles off Sumner Canyon near Black's Beach. The animal was described as roughly 30 feet long, with obvious bloating and signs of decomposition. Lifeguards said they are working with NOAA Fisheries to collect tissue samples and sort out disposal options for the carcass, per ABC 10News.
Video shows crews towing carcass
Local television footage shows California State Parks crews and lifeguards towing the whale carcass out to sea and keeping an eye on whether it might drift back toward shore. The coordinated response and towing operation were captured on video, and officials said they are continuing to monitor and manage the removal effort, according to FOX 5 San Diego.
How officials investigate and what to do
NOAA's West Coast Stranding Network says each whale stranding is handled on a case-by-case basis and asks the public to report dead or injured marine mammals to the West Coast hotline at 1-866-767-6114, per NOAA Fisheries. The Marine Mammal Center notes that causes of whale deaths are often never fully determined, with vessel strikes, predation, disease and harmful algal blooms among the possible factors, and that decisions about necropsy and disposal depend heavily on how decomposed the animal is and how accessible the site is. Officials also remind beachgoers to stay at least 100 yards away from dead or stranded whales and to keep dogs away from the carcasses, according to The Marine Mammal Center.
