Minke whale found on beach at Long Island state park; experts investigating

Rob Digiovanni, of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, said he has seen this all too often this year. It appears sharks bit the creature after it was already dead.

BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) – Officials have a likely cause of death for the 12-foot minke whale that washed ashore on Long Island this week.

Marine life experts are trying to determine the cause of the whale’s death. The whale will then be buried on the beach.

Minke whales are not rare in the waters of Long Island, but these marine creatures are very hard to be spotted due to their rapid movement when they surface from the water. Bosworth said the carcass is covered in what appear to be shark bites. More information will become available after biologists complete their investigation.

The next day, an emaciated eight-foot-long female True’s beaked whale calf washed up in Westhampton Beach.

Anyone who finds marine wildlife on the beach should call the foundation’s stranding hotline: 631-369-9829.