Whales Suddenly Wash Ashore on Long Island: What to Know

A juvenile humpback whale was found washed ashore on Roosevelt Beach on Long Island, New York, on Monday morning, just days after a deceased minke whale was found nearby. Why It Matters Since 2017, elevated minke whale mortalities have occurred along the East Coast of the United States. The deaths have been declared an unusual mortality event. The same warning was previously issued for the humpback. Newsweek reached out to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society via email for comment. What To Know Monday’s beached humpback whale in Long Beach was an estimated 30 feet long, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by News12 Long Island reporter Kurt Semder. “The City is in contact with our Federal and State partners. A necropsy will be performed later this morning followed by burial,” the City of Long Beach New York Police Department posted around 9 a.m. Monday on Facebook. “Please avoid the area to allow the various agencies to conduct their work.” Coast Guard spokesperson Logan Kaczmarkek told Gothamist that 40 to 80 whale sightings are typically reported annually in New York. The humpback incident comes just a few days after the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society had responded to a deceased minke whale near Tobay Beach in New York. The NOAA Fisheries has noted an elevation in minke whale mortalities since 2017. Since 2017, there have been 193 beached minke whales from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Massachusetts has seen the most minke whales washed ashore, at 67. Maine’s total is 46, and New York is the third highest at 29 whales. Over the eight years, 2024 saw the second most beached minke whales overall, at 29. 2018 was worse, with 32 whales. According to the NOAA Fisheries, “preliminary findings in several of the whales have shown evidence of human interactions or infectious disease.” “These findings are not consistent across all of the whales examined, so more research is needed,” the organization reports on its site. Since 2016, 232 humpback whale mortalities have been reported in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, according to the NOAA Fisheries. Massachusetts, again, saw the most at 47, with New York slightly behind at 45. The worst year was 2023, with 37 humpback whale mortalities. On December 18, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society reported another humpback whale dead in Napeague, New York. According to tourist whale-watching websites in New York, humpback whales are typically visible between May and December. Baleen whales—most of the whales in New York waters—also often come. A 25-foot-long dead humpback whale calf lies on the beach after it washed ashore in Wantagh, New York, on June 10, 2010. Whales continue to wash ashore at an alarming rate. A 25-foot-long dead humpback whale calf lies on the beach after it washed ashore in Wantagh, New York, on June 10, 2010. Whales continue to wash ashore at an alarming rate. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images What People Are Saying Sarah Wilkin, the coordinator for the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, told NPR in 2023: “Unfortunately, it’s been a period of several years where we have had elevated strandings of large whales.” What Happens Next Residents are encouraged to report any sightings of sick, injured or deceased marine animals to the New York State Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Hotline at 631-369-9829. Reports beyond New York can be made by calling the Greater Atlantic Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 866-755-6622 and the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 877-433-8299.