"Endangered 46-Foot Whale Washes Up on Oregon Coast, Experts to Monitor Natural Decomposition"

A 46-foot fin whale found dead on the Oregon coast will be left to decompose, providing a nutrient boost for the environment and food for scavengers. Beachgoers are warned not to touch the carcass due to potential disease transmission, and interfering with stranded whales can compromise research efforts. A necropsy revealed fresh wounds from orcas and severe underweight, with final results expected in several weeks. This is the first stranded fin whale on the Oregon coast in at least 10 years, contributing to a larger trend of declining whale populations on the West Coast and Alaska.