Dead pygmy sperm whale calf washes ashore in Buxton

January 7, 2025 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist
Photo by Dan Rothermel.

A deceased pygmy sperm whale calf was found washed up on the beach just east of South Beach Road in Buxton on Tuesday morning, January 7, at approximately 8:00 a.m.

The whale was discovered by beachgoers who immediately notified the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS).

CHNS personnel responded soon after the reported sighting, and removed the dead pygmy sperm whale from the beach.

According to Michelle Tongue, CHNS deputy chief of resource management and science, CHNS staff are currently completing an examination of the carcass in accordance with NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program’s training, guidance, and protocols. The data collected will be sent to NOAA and will be used to try to determine cause of death, if possible.

The pygmy sperm whale calf was found without any obvious injury or indication of cause of death.

More information on marine mammal necropsies can be found on NOAA Fisheries’ site here.

Photo by Dan Rothermel.
Photo by Dan Rothermel.
Photo by Dan Rothermel.

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply

Other News

More Seashore News

Dare County issues updated Public Health Advisory after Buxton Bea ...

January 1, 2025 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

The Dare County Department of Health & Human Services has issued a revised public health advisory for Buxton Beach, due to the December 19 reopening of a portion of the beach closure. Following a 60-day interim response action by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) reopened an approximately two-tenths-of-a-mile section [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras National Seashore reports more than 2.67 million vis ...

December 23, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

With 2,678,290 visitors recorded during the first 11 months of 2024, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) is on track to have another busy year. Per statistics from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, CHNS recorded the following monthly totals for 2024: January – 77,193 February – 79,256 March – 154,935 April – 197,239 May – 267,243 June – 404,323 [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Old Lighthouse Beach reopens to the public, three-tenths-of-a-mile ...

December 19, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

Following a recent interim response action by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and consultations with the Dare County Department of Health of Human Services (DHHS), the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) has reopened an approximately two-tenths-of-a-mile section of beach starting at the southernmost jetty in Buxton and continuing to the south, also known [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Record number of sea turtles rescued on Ocracoke Island during col ...

December 12, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Peter Vankevich

From OcracokeObserver.com The number of rescued sea turtles on the Outer Banks this past week was, well, stunning. A cold spell that dropped water temperatures into the 40s Fahrenheit resulted in hundreds of sea turtles drifting onto the shores of the Outer Banks. Sea turtles are ectotherms, meaning they are cold blooded and can’t regulate [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Ocracoke Light Station renovations continue; equipment delivers th ...

December 9, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com Three separate deliveries of construction equipment associated with the lifting of the Ocracoke Double Keepers’ Quarters are scheduled to occur this coming week. During the deliveries, Lighthouse Road—between approximately Loop Road and Martha Jane Lane—will be closed for up to 30 minutes. Loop Road will remain accessible for those looking for an alternate [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Be on the lookout for cold-stunned sea turtles; Volunteers rescue ...

December 4, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

As temperatures drop in the winter months, cold-stunned sea turtles begin to make an appearance, and this week’s cold spell has already resulted in dozens of sea turtles spotted on local Hatteras Island shorelines. According to Stacey Saunders of N.E.S.T., more than 180 cold-stunned sea turtles were identified and rescued by local N.E.S.T. volunteers in [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Construction equipment deliveries at Ocracoke Light Station will r ...

December 4, 2024 | Seashore News

Three separate deliveries of construction equipment associated with the lifting of the Ocracoke Double Keepers’ Quarters are scheduled to occur the week of Dec. 9. During the deliveries, Lighthouse Road—between approximately Loop Road and Martha Jane Lane—will be closed for up to 30 minutes. Loop Road will remain accessible for those looking for an alternate [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Seashore News Archive

Load More

x
Top