2 dead whales found on Fort Clinch beach

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — A few days each week, Sandra Baker-Hinton goes out to Fort Clinch for her turtle patrol duties.

But this past week has been an interesting one for her. Within a few days, she found two dead whales. She found the first one Sunday.

“When I got closer, it had an odd shape to it. It almost made you think of a seal or dolphin,” said Baker-Hinton.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hauled it away to do a necropsy.

Then on Tuesday, Baker-Hinton found a second whale. This one was decomposed.

“It had heavy shark scavenging,” said Nadia Gordon, a marine mammal biologist for FWC.

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Gordon said a necropsy was also done on this whale. The cause of death for both whales is still undetermined.

She said FWC has seen an increase in the number of dead animals washing ashore lately, and even had an unusual call.

“We also had whale parts wash up on Tuesday in St. Johns County – a couple lungs and a liver,” said Gordon.

This could be from decomposing or shark scavenging.

Gordon said if an animal is beached, its probably there for a reason and needs immediate attention.

Baker-Hinton said she’s continuing to keep her eyes open during her patrols.

FWC says if you see an animal on the shore, don't try to throw it back into the water. Call the FWC hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC.

Cox Media Group