2nd Dead Whale Found In East Hampton This Week

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A new dead whale has been found in East Hampton — the second since Monday, officials said.

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society received calls Wednesday morning to the NYS Stranding Hotline about a deceased whale located just east of Main Beach in East Hampton, AMCS said.

A team arrived onsite Wednesday afternoon to conduct an investigation with support from the Village of East Hampton Police, East Hampton's marine patrol and highway department, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Shinnecock Nation, AMCS said

The 21-foot animal was severely decomposed and only the heart and lung were available for the examination; the sex could not be determined, nor could the species, AMCS said.

Biologists believe it may be a fin or sei whale, and genetic samples were taken and sent to a pathologist for testing; the village removed the remains from the beach for disposal, officials said.

AMCS also received a report of a deceased dolphin in East Hampton — the team plans to return Thursday to respond.

Another dead whale washed up Monday in East Hampton at Indian Wells Beach: According to Rachel Bosworth, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society arrived onsite Tuesday morning to assess the situation. The whale was originally in the surf and the team was waiting for heavy machinery to arrive Tuesday afternoon to secure the whale out of the tide and position it for a necropsy, she said.

A break in Tuesday's rain allowed for the necropsy to move ahead, and the minke whale was confirmed to be 18.7' in length. The animal was fairly decomposed and missing many internal organs, including the reproductive organs, therefore the sex could not be determined, Bosworth said.

"Stranding investigations on all marine mammals and sea turtles are an important part of our conservation work as it provides valuable insight into the health of various species and what threats they face in our waters," said AMCS necropsy program director Kimberly Durham. "Though a definitive cause of death could not be determined during the necropsy our team conducted for this animal today, samples were taken and sent to a pathologist. We will continue to share initial findings from stranding investigations with the public to raise awareness of these species, and will work with our partners to enhance our response efforts in the future."

Pathology results may take several months to come back. The whale was removed from the beach for disposal by the Town of East Hampton.

AMCS said it was grateful for the support from East Hampton Town's marine patrol and sanitation departments.

"AMCS is also proud to support Shinnecock Nation as they honor their heritage during these events," a release said.

On Monday evening, Shane Weeks of the Shinnecock Nation was able to perform a traditional ceremony for the whale, which is called "podtap" in Shinnecock; Weeks has been to nearly every whale beaching on Long Island for the last several years to perform a ceremony, AMCS said.

"These events hold great cultural value to my people," Weeks said. "The whales were also one of the staple foods for the indigenous people in the New England area historically. Our whaling canoes could hold almost 100 people. This connection is still acknowledged to this day."

AMCS pointed out that the organization is the the lead large whale response organization in New York State; this week's whales marked the tenth and eleventh large whale — and second minke whale — they have responded to on New York shores this year. There is an ongoing unusual mortality event for minke whales along the Atlantic coast; additional information can be found on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries website here.

AMCS asks that the public report live and deceased marine mammal and sea turtle strandings immediately by calling the NYS Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829. The public can also report sightings to AMCS by emailing sightings@amseas.org.

Patch photo courtesy AMCS.