Stranded whale dies on Southern Oregon beach

BANDON, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A 38-foot whale became stranded on the Oregon coast south of Bandon Saturday afternoon and later died, Oregon parks officials said Sunday.

Oregon State Park rangers, Oregon State Police, Oregon State University, the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and representatives of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network and NOAA Fisheries responded to the scene, Oregon Park and Recreation officials said.

While alive when it first came ashore, the Sei whale was stranded by the tide and died Saturday evening, officials said.

Based on its size, it was a sub-adult male, meaning it was not yet fully mature.

A necropsy was planned Sunday by OSU, World Vets and Sealife Response, Rehabilitation and Research. The necropsy will allow marine mammal biologists to collect samples to try to determine what may have caused the animal to strand.

The carcass will be buried on the beach shortly thereafter. It is against federal law to take pieces from a whale carcass, officials said.

Information about Sei whales is available online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/sei-whale.