2 Dead Whales Found In Bay Area, Including 1 In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Two dead whales have been found in the San Francisco Bay Area, including one in Marin County, the Marine Mammal Center confirmed Friday.

A dead whale was found partially submerged Friday morning near Jack London Square in Alameda, officials with Sausalito-based Marine Mammal Center said. The carcass was being towed Friday afternoon to Angel Island State Park so scientists can perform a necropsy, or animal autopsy, next week to determine the fin whale's cause of death.

A second dead whale was reported Friday afternoon on Tennessee Valley Beach, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in Marin County. A citizen reported the gray whale carcass by calling the center's 24-hour hotline, officials said.

Scientists have anchored the carcass, taken basic measurements and determined the sex of the dead whale. If conditions allow, they plan to conduct a more thorough necropsy Saturday of the 35-foot-long adult female gray whale.

"Every whale stranding is an important opportunity to learn from these unique animals and contribute to baseline data," said Dr. Shawn Johnson, Marine Mammal Center's head of veterinary sciences, in a statement. "Human impacts can contribute to whale mortality, so understanding the challenges these animals face will help inform policymakers so we can safely share the waters with all species."

Previous: Marin's Marine Mammal Center Studies Dead Whale At Angel Island

The Marine Mammal Center has responded to three other whales, in addition to these two whales, so far this year. The leading causes of death of whales, dolphins and porpoises examined by the center's research team include blunt force trauma from ship strikes, malnutrition, trauma and entanglement, officials said.

The Marine Mammal Center, a nonprofit, encouraged the public to report sick and injured marine mammals by calling 415-289-SEAL (7325). People should maintain a safe distance of at least 50 feet from stranded marine mammals and keep dogs away, officials said.

Photo: Fin whale stranding, Oakland, May 18, 2018. Photo by Helen Keohane, provided by the Marine Mammal Center.