US seeks private beaches for rotting whales as die-off peaks
PORTLAND, Ore. — So many gray whales are dying off the U.S. West Coast that scientists and volunteers dealing with the putrid carcasses have an urgent request for coastal residents: Lend us your private beaches so these ocean giants can rot in peace.
U.S. scientists last month declared the die-off an"unusual mortality event," a designation that triggered additional resources to respond to the deaths and launch an investigation. Story continues"But it's only temporary. It's only going to be smelling for about a month — and after that, the smell's gone."
In past years, the majority of stranded whales were left to rot in place after necropsies were done. A few were buried, hauled to a landfill or sunk at sea. Towing them back out to sea isn't the preferred method because the bodies could wash up again or could cause problems if they float into shipping channels and collide with boats.
But that has raised questions about whether their population has reached the limit of what the environment can sustain, causing a rash of starvation. Another theory cites the loss of Arctic sea ice due to global warming.
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