Swampscott 'Espresso' Whale Buried At Preston Beach

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — A deceased female humpback whale that drew a combination of curiosity, affection and concern about health hazards and how to transport her from Swampscott's Preston Beach last week has been removed.

The whale, which some residents dubbed Espresso, was buried in Swampscott on Saturday afternoon, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Communications Manager Andrea Gomez.

(Also on Patch: Swampscott Beach Whale Removal Proving A Costly Conundrum)

The whale previously washed ashore in Marblehead on May 2 and was then taken by the tail about 50 miles offshore back into the ocean. But two weeks later she was back in Swampscott with her deteriorating condition making it difficult to provide another burial at sea.

"We certainly don't want to have Espresso moving up and down the North Shore to various communities," Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said at last week's Select Board meeting.

Adding to some of the concerns surrounding Espresso was that her decomposing condition could pose a public health problem on the beach the longer she remained there.

Gomez urged anyone who comes across an animal on a beach — living or dead — to remain a safe distance away from it and contact the proper agencies to take care of it.

"All dolphins, porpoises, and whales are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes touching, feeding, or otherwise harming these animals illegal," Gomez told Patch on Monday. "The best way to assist these animals, and keep them and yourself safe, is by calling trained responders and maintaining a 150-foot distance."

NOAA's stranding hotline for marine mammals and sea turtles in the Northeast can be reached at 866-755-6622.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)