Beached Whale Carcass Swept Back Out to Sea

The 17-foot humpback whale was likely pulled back into the ocean during high tide.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:19pm

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A dead humpback whale that washed up on the shores of Newport Beach, California has been swept back into the ocean. Experts were unable to fully examine the 17-foot carcass before it disappeared, but initial observations showed no signs of a boat strike or entanglement. The whale's cause of death is still unknown, with possibilities including toxic algae, plastic ingestion, or disease.

Why it matters

Beached whale incidents are relatively rare but can provide important insights into the health of whale populations and the marine ecosystem. Understanding what led to this whale's death could help identify and address emerging threats to whales in the region.

The details

The whale carcass was first discovered on the Newport Beach shoreline near 11th Street. Experts from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center were sent to collect tissue and blood samples in an effort to determine the cause of death, but they were unable to fully examine the whale due to its position on the water's edge. Strong surf and stormy weather prevented any attempts to pull the carcass back into the ocean. By Friday morning, the whale had disappeared, likely swept back out to sea during high tide.

  • On Thursday, the whale carcass was still being pushed onto the sand by waves.
  • On Friday morning, the 17-foot whale carcass had disappeared from where it originally washed ashore.

The players

Glenn Gray

CEO of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, whose experts were sent to examine the whale carcass.

Newport Beach Lifeguard Operations Division

The division that said they could tow the whale carcass further out to sea if it was located.

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What they’re saying

“Experts were sent to take tissue and blood samples from the carcass in the hope of figuring out what killed it.”

— Glenn Gray, CEO, Pacific Marine Mammal Center

What’s next

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center plans to conduct a necropsy and send samples to labs for testing to determine the cause of the whale's death.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for continued monitoring and research to understand the threats facing whale populations, even in urban coastal areas like Newport Beach. Determining the cause of this whale's death could inform conservation efforts to protect these marine mammals.