Carcass of Rarely Seen Whale Species Washes Ashore at Point Reyes

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The carcass of a deep-water whale species rarely seen along the West Coast washed ashore at Point Reyes National Seashore's North Beach, according to The Marine Mammal Center, who responded to the site near Iverness Monday.

A team of 11 scientists from The Marine Mammal Center, California Academy of Sciences and Point Reyes National Seashore went to perform a necropsy of the 35-foot cetacean, which they presumptively identified as an adult Baird’s beaked whale.

"Beaked whales are a very interesting family of toothed whales that mostly live off the continental shelf edge, foraging in deep canyons to feed on squid," said Dr. Padraig Duignan, chief pathologist at Sausalito-based Marine Mammal Center.

This is the first Baird’s beaked whale the Center has responded to in its 41-year history.

"The opportunity to perform a necropsy on such a unique animal that we rarely have the opportunity to examine will help contribute to our baseline data on the species," Duignan said.

As the team of scientists set out to perform a full necropsy of the mammal in an attempt to determine how it died, they found extensive hemorrhaging near the vertebrae on the left side of the decomposing carcass, according to a statement from The Marine Mammal Center.

They also noted the animal’s fluke had been severed by a sharp object, a possible indication that it may have been injured in a collision with an ocean vessel of some type.

Researchers from the California Academy of Sciences collected bone samples for further study and documentation.

Scientists plan to perform a follow-up evaluation of the cetacean’s carcass Thursday to determine whether any vertebrae were fractured and the sex of the animal. A final determination into the cause of death is not yet known.

Baird’s beaked whales are the largest of the beaked whale family and frequent deep channels off the continental shelf in the North Pacific — usually in groups ranging from six to 30 animals. According to The Marine Mammal Center, the cetaceans are often recognized by their slender cigar shaped body and a distinct protruding lower jaw. Adults can grow up to approximately 40 feet in length and weigh up to 25,000 pounds. Even though they have teeth, Baird’s beaked whales don’t normally use them for feeding and instead feed on squid, herring, mackerel and other deep sea fish by sucking in their prey.

The National Marine Fisheries Service historical records for the West Coast Region show less than a dozen of the whales have ever stranded in California, Oregon, and Washington.

The Marine Mammal Center has responded to 30 other cetaceans so far this year. The Center is a nonprofit facility that depends on donations from members of the public to respond to and care for animals such as this stranded cetacean.

Members of the public who come across sick and injured marine mammals are encouraged to call The Marine Mammal Center at 415-289-SEAL (7325). Also, one should maintain a safe distance of at least 50 feet from marine mammals and keep dogs away.