Riverhead Foundation: 35-Foot Humpback Whale Found in East Quogue

Article written by Erica Jackson.

The Riverhead Foundation headed to the scene in East Quogue where a 35-foot whale was discovered Wednesday morning.

Kim Durham of the Riverhead Foundation said a deceased 30 to 35-foot whale that is laying about 200 yards west of Triton Lane in East Quogue is a humpback.

Durham said her organization is currently consulting with Southampton officials on the next steps, including llogistics for a necropsy and disposal.

She could not yet say what caused the whale's death or if it is a male or female.

The last time a whale was found in the area was in August 2012 when its carcass washed up just east of Tiana Beach in Hampton Bays. It took county workers four hours to burry it after it was determined that the whale had been struck by a ship. 

Four months earlier, on May 5, 2012 an adult pygmy sperm whale was discovered 500 feet from the shore near 901 Dune Road in West Hampton Dunes. It was determined that the 800-pound whale was underweight and died of an illness. 

Southampton Trustee Eric Shultz reported the discovery of the whale, which washed up in East Quogue near Triton Lane on Wednesday morning. 

Shultz said the trustees responded after a call about the whale came into the Southampton Bay Constables office at about 7:45 on Wednesday morning. 

The deceased whale, said Shultz, was originally thrashing in the surf, but it was expected that the carcass would be brought further up the beach as the tide rolled in.

"We are waiting to see what happens and then will figure out what to do with it," said Shultz. "It will be a coordinated effort between the constables, the trustees and the Riverhead Foundation."