Minke Whale Found On Long Island Beach; Death Being Probed
BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Experts are investigating the death of a 12-foot minke whale found on a Long Island beach.
Rob DiGiovanni of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation said the approximately 2,000-pound whale was found Wednesday night at Robert Moses State Park.
He told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall the male appears to be 1 to 3 years old. The whale appeared to have shark bites, but DiGiovanni said that may have happened after it died.
"The animal does have evidence of scavenging," he told 1010 WINS. "It does appear that they were after the animal died, but we also have taken samples to look and see if that might have been before the animal's death."
A necropsy is being performed to determine the cause of death.
As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, other possible causes of death could be disease or a ship strike.
DiGiovanni said minke whales are common in the waters off Long Island.
"A minke whale is very hard to spot, though, because it's a lot smaller whale, has usually a quicker blow, little time on the surface," DiGiovanni said. "So it's usually one of the whales that if it's out there, people would miss seeing it."
The whale is the latest find in south shore waters. A shark was reported two days ago off nearby Jones Beach, and some swimmers were stung by Man O' Wars further east on Fire Island.
"Something caught my eye and I thought it was a balloon," Cathy Thorvaldsen said.
Thorvaldsen almost stepped on a Man O' War.
In recent weeks, a humpback and a True's beaked whale have also washed up on Long Island beaches.
The sightings have some swimmers skittish.
"I don't want to go in that water. I will never go in it again," concession stand worker, Kristin Glabich said.
Concession stand workers at Robert Moses said they'll think twice about wading into the water, but Dominik Zavlo said he's not worried because lifeguards are constantly checking the surf.
"I think if you show up to the beach. You kind of know the ricks, it's an ocean, there's going to be sharks, going to be whales," Zavlo said.
Marine biologists advised swimmers to keep their eyes open.
"These are protected animals so it's against the law to get any closer than 50 yard. So if you stay 50 yards away from the animal there shouldn't be any problem or any danger," DiGiovanni said.
Anyone who sees dangerous marine life has been asked to contact lifeguards or park police.
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