Dead Humpback Whale Washes Up On Sandy Hook Beach

HIGHLANDS, NJ — A dead humpback whale is currently washed up on the beach at Sandy Hook, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, which monitors and responds to dead or injured marine mammals on the Jersey Shore.

The whale was first spotted at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday floating just offshore of Sandy Hook, they said. The whale was already dead.

Within thirty minutes, a second report came in that the whale had washed ashore onto the beaches of the national park. The group posted a photo of the dead whale here: facebook.com/njmarinemammal

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said it sent a trained volunteer who lives in that area out to the scene. That trained volunteer identified the whale as a humpback, measuring approximately 30 feet in length. What caused it to die is unknown right now.

"(Our) Stranding Coordinator is en route to work with local assets for a recovery and disposal plan," said the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

The humpback will undergo a necropsy to determine its cause of death.