LAPUSH — A necropsy performed Thursday on a washed-up whale at Second Beach confirmed the animal is a rarely seen Baird’s beaked whale.

Moderate to advanced decomposition of the carcass prevented scientists from immediately determining the cause of the whale’s death, though biologists have collected samples to study for contaminants and genetic issues, said Brent Norberg, marine mammal coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries divisions.

The whale washed ashore early last week on the beach in Olympic National Park, just south of LaPush, and was discovered Tuesday by hikers.

The whale probably died several days before that, officials said.

In accordance with park policy, the carcass will remain on the beach, reachable only by boat or on foot, while it decays or until it is washed back out to sea.

————-

The rest of the story appears in the Sunday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.