'No Cause Of Mortality Yet' For 42-Foot Humpback Whale Found Deceased On Montauk Beach

MONTAUK, NY — The cause of death has not yet been determined for a deceased humpback whale found washed up on an East Hampton beach Friday, officials said.

According to Rob DiGiovanni, founder and chief scientist at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the 42-foot, female whale was found washed up at Ditch Plains, east of the beach access near the trailer park, at about 6:30 a.m. Friday.

The location of the whale's body made it difficult to access, he said; AMSEAS worked with the town to devise a plan, secure a contractor to help move the animal, and then, conduct a necropsy.

On Friday, officials worked together to build a sand bridge to ensure that heavy equipment could safely navigate down the beach, he said.

By Saturday afternoon, officials were close enough to the whale to secure its body and bring it further west on the beach, DiGiovanni said.

The East Hampton Town bay constable, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and partners from Mystic, CT, as well as others, all worked together on the necropsy, he said.

The whale, believed to be in its teens or close to an adult, he said, was "severely decomposed, with scavenger bites." In addition, he said, the whale had a "good layer of blubber and was in good body condition. It wasn't an emaciated animal or thought to be in sickly condition."

Samples from the necropsy were sent out, DiGiovanni said, adding that the cause of mortality has not yet been determined.

The necropsy was completed and the whale removed by about 5 p.m. Saturday, he said.

On social media Sunday, East Hampton Town officials said that all involved had successfully completed the removal of the deceased humpback whale from near Ditch Plains Beach.

"After a temporary sand land bridge was constructed, the whale was safely moved to a designated work area, where AMSEAS biologists conducted a necropsy before the carcass was removed from the beach," town officials said Sunday.

The work area was covered with fresh sand, and the contractor was slated to continue restoring the temporary access route through the dune, officials said.

The dirt parking lot remained closed during this work, but the beach was open to pedestrians, the town said.

"As a safety precaution, town lifeguards will inspect the water this morning using a drone," town officials said Sunday. "We are incredibly grateful to AMSEAS, the East Hampton Town Department of Natural Resources, our contractor, town staff, law enforcement, and our many partner agencies whose professionalism and coordination made this complex operation possible."

Because of the animal's large size, the operation took significant time and care, town officials said.

In addition, on Saturday, Indigenous community leaders offered a ceremonial prayer for the whale, "recognizing the significance of the animal and honoring it before the work began," officials said.

To report a stranded marine mammal or sea turtle in New York, call the New York State Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829.