Another Beaked Whale Stranding!

Beaked whales are some of the most under studied whales, due to their deep diving and elusive behavior.  A few months ago our team at the Long Marine Lab had the rare opportunity to respond to a live stranded beaked whale on Scott's Creek beach.  Unfortunatly the animal was injured, so we made the decision to euthanize the animal.  Initially we thought the animal was a different species of beaked whale due to it's color pattern, but we later learned that younger individuals have completly different color morphs than the adults!   You can read more about that here.

A couple days ago another beaked whale washed ashore in Point Reyes and it has initially been identified as the same species as the one that stranded on Scott Creek, a Hubb's Beaked Whale.  Their suspicions will soon be either confirmed or denied once DNA testing is complete.  You can read more about that stranding case here.