ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A dwarf sperm whale with a large plastic bag in its stomach was euthanized after it was washed ashore on Butler Beach in St. Augustine in September.
On Sept. 16, a beachgoer called FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline to report the whale.
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Officials said it was thin, had minor cuts from beaching, and its mother was nowhere nearby.
It was humanely euthanized after consultation with officials and a large plastic bag was found in its main stomach with ulcers.
FWC said properly disposing of trash and keeping beaches litter-free could have prevented the whale’s death.
In an Instagram post, St. Johns County Beach Services asked people to report all beached marine animals to the FWC hotline at 1-888-404-3922 so they can receive care and treatment.
Do not push stranded mammals back into the water.