25-foot dead grey whale washes ashore in Huntington Beach, probe underway

A deceased 25-foot grey whale washed ashore near the Huntington Beach Pier on Friday, which attracted the attention of beachgoers and sparked an investigation into the cause of death. Grey whales are known for their long migrations along the Pacific Coast.

A video shared by Key News Network showed the massive mammal lying motionless on the sand near Tower 7 at Huntington City Beach.

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC), based in Laguna Beach, responded to the scene early Saturday and has started a necropsy to determine how the whale died, according to PMMC CEO Glenn Gray.

The adult female whale, estimated to weigh around 60,000 pounds, an average weight for the species, has since been cordoned off by Huntington Beach Marine Safety while officials determine the next steps.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department continued monitoring the area on Saturday. City spokesperson Jennifer Carey confirmed that Huntington Beach’s Public Works Department received authorization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and PMMC to bury the whale on Sunday.

Social Media Reactions

Social media users have shared photos and reactions, with one resident, real estate broker Lytle G. Warren, describing the sight as “sad” and noting its size was comparable to a stretch Cadillac Escalade.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Warren wrote, “Sad to see a large gray whale beached itself this morning in Huntington Beachsupposedly weighed 60,000 lbs which I understand is about average for an adult whale..now this is the extent of my expertise on gray whales.”

This marks the second whale-related incident in Southern California within a week. Earlier, a rare minke whale was found deceased in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor after getting trapped in shallow water. The Marine Mammal Center reported the whale had been stuck in a mudflat at low tide and was later euthanized due to its deteriorating condition and low chance of survival.