Dead minke whale found on Dennis beach

By Doug Fraser

Posted Oct 11, 2020 

DENNIS – An initial necropsy by staff from the International Fund for Animal Welfare found that a minke whale that was discovered dead and stranded on a beach near Sesuit Harbor Sunday may have died as a result of becoming entangled in line.

IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue Team responded to a report of a dead whale and found a young minke entangled in line that wrapped around its head and through its mouth, creating a bridle that may have made it hard for the animal to open its mouth and feed.

The initial necropsy noted injuries caused by the entanglement and signs of possible infection. Although lab results are pending, the entanglement likely contributed to the cause of death, IFAW wrote in a Facebook post.

ifaw

 

tSopo

Our Marine Mammal Rescue Team received a report of a recently deceased male minke whale stranded on a beach near Sesuit Harbor in Dennis, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, this young whale was entangled in line that wrapped around its head and through its mouth, creating a bridle. The initial necropsy (animal autopsy) findings include injuries caused by the entanglement and signs of possible infection. The entanglement likely contributed to the cause of death, though additional lab results are pending.

We are grateful to the

Town of Dennis

Harbor Master, Dennis Department of Public Works, and

Northside Marina

for their assistance with this case.