SPRING LAKE, NJ – The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) reported that a deceased Beaked whale was discovered on the beach at St. Clair Ave. in Spring Lake, NJ, early Thursday morning, June 13th. Responding to a call at 6:00 AM, a certified stranding volunteer and former stranding technician from the local area were dispatched to assist with the identification and documentation of the medium-sized cetacean.
The Beaked whale, identified as belonging to the family Ziphiidae, measured 13 feet 2 inches and was in a moderately decomposed state. Following initial assessments, the Spring Lake Department of Public Works transported the whale to their yard, from where MMSC staff mobilized to further examine the animal.
Subsequently, the whale’s carcass was moved to the Animal Health Diagnostic Lab (NJAHDL) of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture in Trenton for a detailed necropsy. The results of this examination will be shared on the MMSC’s website, which can be accessed here.
Since its founding in 1978, the MMSC has responded to nineteen Beaked whale strandings involving four different species, including Gervais’, True’s, Cuvier’s, and Blainville’s. Beaked whales are toothed whales, noted for their narrow rostrums and belong to one of the least-known groups of marine mammals. These whales typically inhabit deeper waters, spend minimal time at the surface, and are elusive, which complicates efforts to study their behavior and population. Further laboratory examination is necessary to accurately determine the species of the Beaked whale found in Spring Lake.