BRIGATINE: On January 12th at 4:50pm the Marine Mammal Stranding Center received a call for a deceased Humpback whale on the North End beach of Brigantine. When MMSC staff arrived, they found the 20-25 foot long carcass upside down in the surf. Due to the incoming tide and low light last night, staff returned at daybreak this morning to take photos. After a conference call with NOAA Fisheries and Greater Atlantic Region Stranding Network members to work out logistics, plans are underway for a necropsy to be performed on the animal. In the meantime, Marine Mammal Stranding Center staff is returning to the location at the next low tide to begin taking measurements and samples. More information will be shared on our page as plans develop and are finalized. We are asking for patience as our small staff is entirely focused on performing our work in the most professional and scientific manner. As with all large whales, our samples are sent to pathologists and other researchers who are tasked with investigating whale mortalities. These results can take several months to come back before a cause of death can be determined, if at all.
Due to the animal’s location on the North End Natural Area, recent beach erosion and the predicted tide cycle, the area is hazardous to access.