Stranded subadult fin whale dies on Samish Island beach in Skagit County
A stranded whale died Tuesday, May 5 on Samish Island south of Bellingham in Skagit County.
A young subadult male fin whale was initially alive when it was stranded on a beach Monday night, but reportedly died as responders were on their way to the scene, according to a social media post from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Teams from the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Cascadia Research Collective and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife all responded.
Fin Whales are the second-largest animals on Earth behind the blue whale. The one stranded on Samish Island this week is just over 61 feet long and weighs about 40 tons, according to the NOAA.
The whale’s carcass will be left to decompose naturally after a necropsy.
The NOAA asks that anyone who comes across any stranded or injured marine mammal report it to the Standing Network hotline at 1-866-767-6114. Stranded animals can be dangerous, and untrained observers should keep their distance until professional responders arrive.
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 9:34 AM.
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