Was a dead humpback whale found along the coast in North Myrtle Beach, SC? What we know
A South Carolina-based nonprofit reported finding a dead humpback whale in a “pretty remote area” near North Myrtle Beach.
The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network responded to a juvenile whale stranded on the jetty near Sunset Beach, North Carolina, said executive director Lauren Rust. The nonprofit, which studies and helps stranded mammals in South Carolina, received a call about a dead whale floating off the North Carolina coast on March 15.
Rust said the whale had become beached near the South Carolina jetty on March 16, although crews could not make it out until Monday, March 17. They transported the whale from the jetty to the beach in North Carolina.
While a social media post said the whale was stranded in North Myrtle Beach, it was located closer to the North and South Carolina border, Rust said. The post was later updated to say it was found near Bird Island, North Carolina.
The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network and University of North Carolina Wilmington Marine Mammal Stranding Program gathered samples from the humpback to study and determine its cause of death.
As of March 24, it’s still unknown why the whale died, but Rust said the large mammal had trauma when it landed. She estimated the 29-foot male to be a juvenile. After taking samples, the water was too shallow to send it back out to sea, so staff buried the whale at the beach.
Many whales spend summer in the cold Canadian waters and move south for the winter, The Sun News previously reported. The best chance to see whales in the Grand Strand is when they migrate in the fall and spring.
“It’s not uncommon for humpback whales to migrate this time of year,” Rust said.
Recently, a whale was spotted near Cherry Grove Beach, The Sun News reported.
Rust encourages people to call 800-922-5431 if they see a stranded mammal, such as a dolphin, whale or seal.
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM.
