40-Ton Whale Dies Amid Wave of Strandings Off Coast of Washington State

61-foot fin whale that died on Samish Island was malnourished

The male is the 18th whale to die in Washington waters in 2026 and the first fin whale, an endangered animal that is rarely spotted in the Salish Sea.

40-ton whale dies amid wave of strandings off coast of Washington state

The animal was a fin whale, the second-largest animal in the world, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association said.

Whale dies near Bellingham amid wave of strandings in Washington's waters

The species is the second largest animal on Earth, behind only blue whales.

61-foot fin whale dies after stranding on Samish Island beach

The carcass is 61 feet long and weighs 40 tons.

Dead fin whale beached on Samish Island adds to concerns for Pacific cetaceans

Gray whales are starving and dying on Washington beaches, researchers warn

Fin Whale dies near Bellingham

Following a devastating spring for marine mammals along the Pacific coast, another tragic stranding has occurred in Washington waters.