A 28-foot female humpback whale that was found dead in Lloyd Harbor over the weekend may have died of blunt force trauma, marine biologists said.
Huntington town bay constables towed the whale, which was found floating 150 yards offshore near Woodland Drive, to the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Eatons Neck, where experts performed a necropsy Sunday, experts said.
“There is evidence of blunt force trauma on the right side of the whale’s body,” said Rachel Bosworth, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. “It will take several weeks for the exact cause of death to be determined.”
This is the seventh large whale that has washed up in New York this year, five of which were humpback whales.
The whale is likely one of those seen swimming within the last six weeks near Hempstead Harbor, Bosworth noted.
The Riverhead Foundation asks that anyone who has images of the tail, chin or dorsal fin of the recently spotted whales call them at 631-369-9840 or email images to sightings@riverheadfoundation.org. These will be extremely helpful in identifying the deceased whale, the group said.
The group also reminded the boating public to stay at least 50 feet away from all marine animals, for the safety of the public and the animals. To report a sighting to the Riverhead Foundation, call 631-369-9829.
