Whale washes up near Florence (Oregon)

[stevedeshazer]

Biologists investigating the cause of death, preparing to remove carcass from the beach.





The fin whale had been spotted floating in the ocean near Florence a couple days ago. It washed up on shore near the Heceta Head State Scenic Viewpoint and Devil's Elbow Beach Saturday. The area is now closed to visitors.


Chris Havel with Oregon Parks and Recreation says the area will be closed until the carcass can be removed. Now, the Marine Mammal Stranding Network is assisting the investigation into the cause of death.


"The preliminary reports I received put its length at about 40-feet and it is much thinner than expected for a whale of this species," said Havel.


He is not sure when the area will reopen.

http://www.620kpoj.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=123543&article=5122675

[moundsview]

1. No problem, they have ways of dealing with it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vmnq5dBF7Y

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. I know what they should do with it

It worked out so well last time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_t44siFyb4

[stevedeshazer]

3. Yup. That's how we deal with dead whales in these parts.

:nuke:

[tularetom]

4. Before I look is that the one where they blowed that whale up real good?

That was hilarious.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. Yep

Watch it - around 1:40, right after the explosion, you hear the first "PLOP!" of blubber landing near the camera and sound techs.

That always breaks me up.....................

[tularetom]

6. We went there for our honeymoon in 1962

I had just been discharged from the Army and was ready to start university studies in September. We were frickin broke and this was all we could afford. It was a fun place though and I'm glad they didn't blow up any whales while we were there.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. I am, too...

Being showered with bloody whale blubber in an advanced state of decomposition wouldn't have been terribly romantic.

What a funny association for you to have! I'll wager you and your wife laughed long and hard when this happened..................

[csziggy]

8. Hey, it could have worse - they could have had it explode in the middle of town

Like the whale that was being hauled to a research facility in Tainen, Taiwan, and that exploded in the middle of the market district - CAUTION - Link has graphic picture of post explosion whale parts!:
Taiwanese street, shops showered after gases built up inside
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4096586/

Thar she blows! Dead whale explodes
Taiwanese street, shops showered after gases built up inside
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4096586/

TAIPEI - Residents of Tainan learned a lesson in whale biology after the decomposing remains of a 60-ton sperm whale exploded on a busy street, showering nearby cars and shops with blood and organs and stopping traffic for hours.

The 56-foot-long whale had been on a truck headed for a necropsy by researchers, when gases from internal decay caused its entrails to explode in the southern city of Tainan.

Residents and shop owners wore masks while trying to clean up the spilt blood and entrails.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

"What a stinking mess. This blood and other stuff that blew out on the road is disgusting, and the smell is really awful," a BBC News report quoted one Tainan resident as saying.

<SNIP>
Once moved to a nearby nature preserve, the male specimen -- the largest whale ever recorded in Taiwan -- drew the attention of locals because of its large penis, measured at some five feet, the Taipei Times reported.

"More than 100 Tainan city residents, mostly men, have reportedly gone to see the corpse to 'experience' the size of its penis," the newspaper reported.

[connectflorence]

9. Sad sight to see.

Nature is an amazing even when it is brutal. The whale is seems very large in the small cove that the lighthouse sits in. It is a very sad sight, you can only view it from the highway above as they have the road blocked off down to the beach itself. I am glad for this because I've seen smaller whales on more secluded beaches that have been cut up by chainsaws and made into souvenirs.

I have a few distant pics I will try & post later.

Patrick

[stevedeshazer]

11. I'm familiar with the place.

I have a hard time imagining wanting to cut up dead whales, though.

Welcome to DU.

[Thothmes]

10. You can bet they will not try to use dynamite to dispose of the

carcass after the necropsy.