Dead Humpback Whale Found Stuck In Townsends Inlet Waters

Ocean City NJ

06 November, 2020

11:55 AM

Description

TOWNSENDS INLET, NJ — A dead humpback whale has been stuck for several days in the Townsends Inlet waters. Officials first found the whale Wednesday between Sea Isle City and Avalon, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. The whale's body remains stuck in the inlet's mud, according to Bob Schoelkopf, director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. "Even if we are able to get the animal on dry land, there's very little information we're going to get, other than maybe if it was hit by a ship or something," he told Patch. Seven Mile Times posted a photo of the whale. They found the animal late Wednesday afternoon, which was too late to dispatch anyone because of lost light, Schoelkopf said. They also can't examine it in the deep water because of sharks moving in and out. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center can do little in this situation except wait for tides to carry the whale to shore. "Right now the adjoining cities — Avalon and Sea Isle — really don't want it on the beach," Schoelkopf said. "So we can't physically move the animal to one of those beaches. All we can do is let nature take its course." If you see a stranded mammal or sea turtle at the Jersey Shore, immediately call the MMSC at 609-266-0538. Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Ocean City Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email [email protected].