"Endangered Fin Whale Found Dead on Oregon Beach Left to Decompose"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Associated Press
A 46-foot fin whale washed ashore on an Oregon beach, providing a rare educational opportunity as it decomposes, though caution is advised due to potential disease transmission. The whale, entangled in rope before someone removed it, was not killed by the entanglement. A necropsy will determine the cause of death, and the natural decomposition process will provide nutrients to the local environment. This approach contrasts with a 1970 incident where officials used dynamite to dispose of a beached whale, causing widespread damage.