By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com
A young humpback whale euthanized Thursday after stranding itself on the beach for 30 hours was a healthy male with no apparent injuries or wounds, according to preliminary necropsy results.
The whale’s layer of blubber was good condition, Michael Milstein, the Portland-based spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said Friday.
He said veterinarians who conducted a necropsy after the whale was euthanized Thursday found no wounds or injuries but noted some healed scratches and scars, which is common.
Veterinarians drew blood samples while it was alive, which will be processed and examined for other health indicators, Milstein said.
The 5- to 6-month-old humpback appeared to be weaned from its mother and likely in search of prey when it got stuck in the sand near the Bayshore community about 7 a.m. Wednesday. It got free from the sand during a high tide Wednesday afternoon, swam out for a bit and then turned toward shore again.
It failed to get off the beach during a high tide about 1 a.m. Thursday, rolling farther up the beach to the high-tide line.
About noon Thursday veterinarians and whale experts made the decision to euthanize it, determining that its condition had deteriorated too much after almost 30 hours on the beach.
“We want to make the best decision,” said Stephanie Norman, a veterinarian with the Newport-based Marine Mammal Stranding Network who is authorized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to assess the whale and help make a decision on what to do.
She and veterinary nurse Casey McLean talked with whale experts in Seattle and Washington, D.C. before the decision to euthanize was made.
“We know so little about these animals in general that we consult with everyone,” Norman said.
Milstein said the whale’s stomach had a large amount of fluid that was probably the result of the whale swallowing a lot of seawater while it was stranded and during higher tides. It was unclear if there was milk present because of all the water, he said.
Norman said it pooped early Thursday — a good sign that it had been eating before stranding.
While scientists and dozens of volunteers who tried to keep the whale cool hoped it could get off the beach, most said its chances of survival were slim.
One of the biggest problems of a whale lying on the beach is that its unsupported weight damages internal organs. Heat and exhaustion are other debilitating factors. McLean said dragging or somehow hauling the whale to deep water would only injure it more.
Whale strandings are rare, and rarely end well
Whale populations along the West Coast have recovered well in the past 30-40 years. Gray whales are most commonly seen off the Oregon coast, migrating north to Alaska waters or south to breed off the coast of Mexico.
The Mexico population of humpback whales, which travel north to forage off the California, Oregon and Washington coasts, is estimated to be 6,000 to 7,000 animals. There are an estimated 22,000 humpbacks total in the North Pacific, including whales from Hawaii, Mexico and Central America.
But live whale strandings are rare – only about eight each year on all United States coasts, according to NOAA. Most die within 24 hours even if they are able to get to deeper water.
Only an average of two a year are euthanized, according to NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.
In 2016 and 2017, according to NOAA, there were just four live strandings in the Pacific Northwest; all four died.
“The outcome is disappointing but I’m not sure there was going to be any other result give the situation,” said Chris Havel, spokesman for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, said after the Waldport whale was euthanized.
It took about an hour to euthanize the big mammal, shielded from TV cameras and a crowd of 60-80 onlookers by a large tent.
After it was pronounced dead a vehicle from the Newport Fire Department dragged it above the tide line where veterinarians and scientists began a necropsy.
Once they finished a crew from the Oregon Army National Guard buried the whale above the tide line.
Volunteers helped keep whale comfortable
Staff, students and volunteers from the stranding network, Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute in Newport and the Oregon Coast Aquarium took shifts Wednesday and Thursday digging sand away from the young whale, covering it with towels and pouring water over it.
“We’re pretty helpless to do more than that,” said Thomas Follett, a faculty research assistant at the institute.
The whale is 21 feet long, likely born 5-6 months ago off the coast of Central America or Mexico and likely has been weaned – or prematurely weaned — from its mother.
“Once they’re weaned they’re on their own,” said Follett, adding that it was his first live whale stranding in 22 years at OSU. “It probably got confused following prey into the sand bar.”
Humpbacks along the West Coast calve off Central America or Mexico then head north to feed. Humpback whales usually are farther out to sea than the more numerous gray whales that migrate up and down the Oregon and Washington coasts.
Bruce Mate, director of OSU Marine Mammal Institute, told YachatsNews.com that like all mammals, the first year of a whale’s life is treacherous.
“It’s a tough time in life for them,” Mate said. “One half of whales make it to one year. Mothers are very loyal, so it would have had to be pretty traumatic to result in something like this … but most would die at sea and never be seen.”
One volunteer’s view
Shelby Tilden of Waldport has been fascinated with sea life for years and is creator of the Central Oregon Coast Cetacean Watch page on Facebook where people can post their photos and observations of whales as they come and go along the coast.
Tilden, an attorney, had volunteered with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network while living in California, so went down to help Wednesday after hearing of the humpback on the beach.
She spent three hours Wednesday evening as part of a bucket brigade, hauling water from the ocean to pour over the whale until the tide approached about 9:30 p.m.
“We were all focused on keeping the whale as comfortable as it could be,” she said. “It was very sad. Whales aren’t supposed to be on the beach.”
It was also clear that gravity was affecting the whale’s organs, it’s efforts to breathe, Tilden said, and that the outcome probably would not be a good one.
“I know the odds aren’t great for a stranded whale,” she said. “Even if it got free, there was a high probability of re-stranding based on the statistics that I’ve seen.”
After nearly 30 hours out of the water, she agreed that euthanasia Thursday was the “most humane” decision.
But Tilden is also working through her Facebook page to encourage people to take action to protect marine life and the ocean.
“This whale is not the only one in this predicament,” she said. “There’s a lot more out there and a lot more we can try to do. I’m trying to channel my sadness into a positive action.”
Question-and-Answer from NOAA on live large whale strandings
Question: Why do whales strand?
Answer: Large whales may strand alive for a number of reasons, including complex topographic and oceanographic conditions, contaminants, weather conditions, natural toxins such as domoic acid or saxitoxin poisoning, disease, emaciation or malnourishment, and human caused injuries. Each case is different and the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network responds to all large whale cases to better understand what factors may have contributed to the stranding.
Q: Are whale populations healthy on the West Coast?
A: After 45 years of protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act many whale populations are recovering and are reaching healthy population levels. Gray whales are common along the West Coast and were removed from the endangered species list in 1994. Six species of whales found along the West Coast are currently listed under the Endangered Species Act including the Blue whale, Fin whale, Humpback whale (some distinct population segments have been recently delisted), Northern Pacific Right Whale, Sei whale and the Southern Resident Killer whale.
Q: How common is it for a large whale to strand alive?
A: In recent years, an average of eight large whales have stranded alive around the United States. In most cases, the whales have died within 24 hours of the initial stranding, even after returning to deeper water. In the past three years, across the United States at least four live stranded large whales successfully freed themselves but all subsequently re-stranded and died. In the Pacific Northwest in the past two years, four whales stranded alive and then died onshore. In about two instances each year nationwide, a decision is made to humanely euthanize a large whale that strands alive.
Q: Can large whales be saved when they strand?
A: Every large whale stranding event is unique and poses different challenges. When a whale strands onshore a primary concern is that increased gravity pressure from being out of the water can lead to respiratory and circulatory collapse. The animal can also experience severe skin blistering, live animal scavenging, hyperthermia, distress and serious injury. The West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network has used several methods to address some of these concerns during past live whale strandings, such as using sheets, water buckets and sprayers to keep whales wet and cool while waiting for the tide to rise or when considering other options, including euthanasia.
Q: Why can’t a whale be pulled off of the beach?
A: Trying to pull or push a large whale from the beach can be very resource intensive as specialized equipment is required, which may or may not be readily available within the critical 24-36 hours after the stranding. Towing live whales by the tail can result in seriously injuring or dislocating the tail, causing paralysis and is therefore considered inhumane. While there are YouTube videos of “successful” whale re-floating which generally involve putting a rope or cable around the peduncle/tail of the animal and pulling it off the beach with a boat, based on input from veterinarians and discussions by the International Whaling Commission this action is likely to cause pain and physical harm to the animal. It can injure tail muscles, reducing the ability of the whale to swim, feed, and avoid predators. In the worst case scenario this process could break the spinal cord which would then paralyze the animal.
Q: Can the area around the animal be dredged so it can swim away?
A: Dredging to remove sediment or sand around a stranded whale has not been tried very often due to resource limitations and potential environmental impacts/approval process. Dredging would require availability of an appropriate vessel as well as the necessary authorization to be given quickly in an emergency situation, within 24 hours if possible. Anecdotally, previous attempts to dredge the area around a whale have ended with the whale rolling into the dredged “hole” and then, unable to right itself to breathe, it drowned.
Q: When does the Network consider euthanasia?
A: If a stranded large whale is in overall poor condition (emaciated, malnourished, severe internal or external injuries, dependent calf with no adult present) and remains onshore after 1-2 tide cycles euthanasia will be considered. This is discussed on a case-by-case basis and the decision is made by the NOAA regional stranding coordinator in consultation with the local network group, attending veterinarian, and Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program staff. This does not mean that euthanasia will be considered in every case, in some areas of Washington and Oregon the location and limited resources may prevent us from intervening safely or considering euthanasia. The weight of a large whale onshore can result in pressure necrosis on the underlying muscles and their lungs can collapse when a whale is not supported by water. Even if a whale was able to free itself during a subsequent incoming tide it would not likely survive the stranding following an extended period out of the water. Qualified veterinarians may recommend that euthanasia is the most humane option for the whale based on the condition of the animal, the circumstances, and available resources.
Q: What means of euthanasia are available for large whales?
A: Currently the preferred method for euthanasia of large whales is through a dose of potassium chloride. This method involves deep sedation so the animal is fully unconscious before administering the potassium chloride.
Q: Will the whale be in pain? Will the whale react? How long will it take?
A: The whale is first given a high dose of a strong sedative and a painkiller before being given the dose of potassium chloride to stop the heart. The initial doses are given with long, skinny needles that do not cause much pain, similar to a vaccine shot. The potassium chloride is then delivered through a large needle that reaches the heart. As part of that process, the veterinarian needs to get backflow from the needle to make sure it is in the right place. This process may cause the whale to bleed at the injection site, which can look much worse when a relatively small amount of blood mixes with water. The whale may react by gaping its mouth or by raising the pectoral flippers or flukes which is known as the “last swim.” This may be difficult to witness but if euthanasia is being administered, qualified veterinarians have determined it is the most humane option for the whale. The time of death varies for each case; sedation to death can range from 48 minutes to 2 hours and 18 minutes. From the time the potassium chloride is administered to death ranges from 4 minutes to 10 minutes. The potassium chloride works by inhibiting the ability of the heart muscles to contract and effectively stops the heart when administered.
Q: What can be learned from live large whale strandings?
A: Every year there are thousands of reports of stranded marine mammals (this includes whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions) throughout the West Coast. Each case can hold important information about the species which can contribute to scientific research or public education. The West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network conducts necropsies on large whales that have stranded to better understand the cause of death by collecting a range of samples for analysis. The necropsy is extremely important; it provides valuable insight into the health of these animals and the data collected may help animals in the future.
Q: What is the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network?
A: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network was established in the early 1990’s under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Members of the network respond to marine mammal stranding events along the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts and is part of a nationwide network. To learn more about the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network please visit: https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/marine_mammals/stranding_network.html