RELATED: Photos of the beached whale
Officials with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center tell The Press of Atlantic City that the whale showed signs of decay when it came ashore in Ocean City on Monday. They suspect it was likely struck by a ship while in the channel, but a necropsy will be held to determine the cause of death.
The center's director, Robert Schoelkopf, says the whale appears to be a 40- to 45-foot-long adolescent fin whale. Its carcass remained in the surf Monday night, and officials say it can't be moved until the whale is fully beached.
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Information from: The Press of Atlantic City, http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com
