Why Are Humpback Whales Washing Up On NC Beaches?

NORTH CAROLINA — Four whales have washed up dead along North Carolina’s coast in the past two weeks, prompting concern from scientists alarmed by the uptick in deaths, according to reports.

During an average year, only two or three whales wash up along the shore, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

According to the newspaper, a dwarf sperm whale washed up in Nags Head in early February. Last week, a humpback whale was found near Oregon Inlet. On Feb. 17, two humpback whales were found — a juvenile along Corolla Beach and another at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. One was found to have parasites, two were too decomposed to determine cause of death and one had a hemorrhage that indicated it was struck by a ship.

“This is definitely something we should keep an eye on,” Karen Clark, who is director of the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla told the newspaper.

Clark said the recent discoveries are part of a trend scientists have been noting since 2016.

At least 88 humpback whales have been recorded washing up along the U.S.’ Atlantic Coast in the past three years, prompting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to declare an unusual mortality event.

“Partial or full necropsy examinations were conducted on approximately half of the whales,” NOAA said. “Of the whales examined, about 50 percent had evidence of human interaction, either ship strike or entanglement.”

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