Stranded Minke Whale Dies In East Hampton

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A whale found stranded in East Hampton Thursday morning has died, officials said.

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society said a report came in about a live minke whale stranded in Northwest Creek in East Hampton around 8 a.m. The whale was reported to be 12 to 14 feet long, and in about 1.5 to 2 feet of water, officials said.

AMSEAS sent a response team to evaluate the animal, which was reported to be breathing, but not otherwise very active. East Hampton Marine Patrol and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation were on scene to make sure the whale was safe, and to keep people from disturbing the distressed whale, AMSEAS said. When the AMSEAS team arrived, they confirmed the animal had died.

The team was working to formulate a plan Thursday for a necropsy examination; after the examination, AMSEAS said it will share additional information including the length, sex, approximate age, and any significant findings.

Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whales, and fairly common in the waters off Long Island. There has been an ongoing unusual mortality event in effect for minke whales along the Atlantic coast since 2017, AMSEAS.

Last week, a dead, emaciated humpback whale was found in the Southampton surf.

AMSEAS is the lead large whale response organization in New York State and advises anyone who sees an injured, sick, or deceased whale should immediately call the NYS Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829. Sightings of healthy whales are also beneficial to the organization’s work, and can be shared by emailing sightings@amseas.org, AMSEAS said.