Whales wash ashore on Long Island beaches amid rising marine mammal deaths

Phil Corso

Published Dec 30, 2024

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Police say the whale was discovered washed ashore at Roosevelt beach.

City of Long Beach New York Police Department

Phil Corso

Published Dec 30, 2024

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

A juvenile humpback whale was found washed ashore early Monday morning at Roosevelt Beach in Long Beach, the city's police department said.

Federal and state agencies were collaborating to perform a necropsy, with plans to bury the whale after the examination, officials said. Authorities urged residents to avoid the area to facilitate the work.

This incident comes just days after the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society responded to a deceased minke whale in the surf near Tobay Beach in the Town of Oyster Bay on Saturday. According to a release, the group is working with multiple agencies, including New York State Parks and NOAA Fisheries, to monitor the animal and plan its removal.

The two beachings occur amid a concerning rise in whale deaths along the Atlantic coast, the AMCS said. The group noted that minke whale deaths have increased significantly since 2017, sparking ongoing investigations by marine conservation experts.

Residents were encouraged to report any sightings of sick, injured or deceased marine mammals to the New York State Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Hotline at 631-369-9829.

Anywhere from 40 to 80 whale sightings are reported in the New York area every year, Coast Guard spokesperson Logan Kaczmarek previously told Gothamist.

Tagged

environment

long island