Infectious Disease Accounts for One-Third of Beached Whales on the Outer Banks in March, An Alarming Incident

In a startling revelation, an infectious disease has been cited as the reason for the stranding of one out of three whales that washed ashore this month on the Outer Banks.

The Tale of Three Stranded Whales

On Friday, March 8, 2024, The Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN) raced to respond to reports of three whale strandings, the first being a malnourished female minke whale. According to Blair Mase, NOAA’s southeast region marine mammal stranding coordinator, a surge in both minke and humpback whale deaths has been occurring since 2016, with infectious diseases standing out as one of the primary culprits.

Later that same day, a mother dwarf sperm whale and her calf also washed ashore. Tragically, the calf, still unweaned and thus dependent on its mother, had to be euthanized due to the absence of rehabilitation alternatives in the state for dependent whale calves.

Identifying the Cause

By March 7, a 26-foot female minke whale showed up again a few miles north after initially being washed ashore at Carova on March 5. There were no external injuries on her, but she appeared visibly thin. An official necropsy from MMSN confirmed that the minke was suffering from an infection, contributing to a rising larger mortality event.

Marina Doshkov, Jennette’s Pier stranding coordinator, highlighted the challenges faced in such situations: “A lot of thought goes into putting the animal down at that point.” Finding a calf stranded is akin to finding a newborn human abandoned in the streets – releasing it back into the wild without its mother is not an option.

Waiting for further confirmation

Despite the initial diagnoses, definitive conclusions are currently on hold until histology reports for all cases are completed. Much remains unclear about the cause of the dwarf sperm whale calf’s stranding, although it has been established that she trailed her mother onto the beach. Notably, the mother whale showed signs of illness.

Reasons for Stranding

Quoting Mase, “it’s a mixed bag”, the reasons why whales wash ashore are not limited to infections or diseases. Sometimes, physical evidence like entanglement or vessel strikes has been attributed to these fatal stranding events. Unfortunately, in cases where the stranded mammal is severely emaciated or scavenged, researchers might not be able to identify the cause of the stranding.

Showcasing a concerning issue that threatens marine life, these recent manifestations are distressing. Early springtime usually witnesses an upsurge in such cases with numerous things being washed ashore due to gusty winds.

The MMNS team collaborates with multiple partners to attend stranding incidents, take appropriate measures, and ensure maximum rescue effort. Through this ordeal, they implore any discerning observer who has found a stranded, injured, or deceased marine mammal to report the incident immediately.