Whale Dies On Ocean City Beach, What To Do If You See Stranding

OCEAN CITY, MD — Beach-goers poured buckets of water on a young sperm whale and tried to push it back into the ocean Sunday morning but efforts to help the stranded animal were unsuccessful. The 15-foot-long whale, which was described by staffers from the National Aquarium in Baltimore as extremely underweight, died that afternoon.

Authorities said the beached whale was spotted near 114th street about 6:45 a.m. Ocean City Police reported large groups of people monitoring the whale and in some instances attempting to push the whale away from the beach.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources will remove the animal from the beach and perform a necropsy, an animal autopsy, to attempt to learn more about why the whale stranded.

Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales and were a target of the whaling industry from 1800 to 1987 because the waxy substance in their heads was used in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles. While the sperm whale population is still recovering, according to NOAA Fisheries, it is classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Whales become stranded most often when they are ill or injured, NOAA says.

"I have been watching since 7 a.m.," Barb Carr Moran told CNN. "It has been very sad to watch this beautiful creature die in front of us. The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming."

DNR experts say if you see a dolphin, whale, manatee or other animal on a beach, leave it alone.

Marine mammals are specifically protected by federal law, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, while sea turtles and whales are protected under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. It is illegal to harass, capture, or collect these marine species, alive or dead, including their bones or any body parts.

More than a dozen aquatic animals find themselves stranded on Maryland's inland and ocean coasts every year. Maryland's Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding program staff handle these call in state waters, including the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

If you find a stranded marine mammal or sea turtle, here's what to do:

• Do not touch the animal – even if it is dead.
• Call Maryland's Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Program at 1-800-628-9944.
• Record the location using latitude/longitude, a street address, and/or description with landmarks.
• Record the length, size, color, noticeable body parts and movements (if alive).
• Take photos of the animal.
• Stand by the animal until a stranding staff person calls or arrives.

SEE ALSO: Stranded Whales, Manatees, Dolphins: Who To Call In Maryland