Second Dead Pilot Whale Washes Ashore, Massachusetts

Pilot Whale Found On Truro Beach

October 11, 2011

TRURO, Mass. — A second dead pilot whale washed up on a Massachusetts beach Tuesday.

 David G. Curran/ SatelliteNewsService.com

The 11-foot whale, which washed ashore on Head of the Massachusetts in Truro, was the second found this week.

Another dead pilot whale was found dead on Duxbury Beach on Monday.

Scientists are uncertain if the whales were part of the same pod.

Images: Whale Washes Up On Beach

The whale found in Duxbury was about 14 feet long and appeared to be a male adolescent. A necropsy was planned to determine a cause of death.

Short-finned pilot whales are larger members of the dolphin group and reach average lengths of 12 feet for females and 18 feet for males, with maximum male size of 24 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service.

They are usually black or dark brown with a large gray saddle behind the dorsal fin. Males usually live about 45 years and females 60 years, according to the NOAA..

Ship collisions and fishing net entanglements are thought to be the primary causes of serious injury and death for whales. Aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse says there was no visible evidence of trauma or entanglement in fishing gear.

He said pilot whales are extremely social marine mammals quite common Massachusetts waters. He says two other pilot whales, probably responding to the distress of the whale on the beach, were seen in nearby waters but appear to be OK.

Listening buoys have been placed in Massachusetts Bay to help alert ship captains when whales have been heard within 24 hours so that they can slow to 24 knots and be on the lookout for the large mammals.
thebostonchannel.com
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Dead Pilot whale on Duxbury Beach, Massachusetts
By xdrfox on Tuesday, October 11, 2011