Whale Carcass Smell ‘Overpowering'

The decomposing carcass of a roughly 35-foot whale was found floating less than two miles off the Children's Pool in La Jolla and was heading toward the shore Saturday, San Diego lifeguards said.

"Lifeguards saw a white floating object and were unsure what it was -- could be capsized vessel or whale," Lt. John Greenhaugh said. "When they arrived on scene it was a 35-foot, what they're saying is a blue whale, that's been dead and decomposing."

The whale poses a quality of life issue, should it wash ashore.

"It's in the La Jolla area which has a lot of rocky beaches and coves and there are a lot of homes that are along the shoreline," Greenhaugh said.
 
The goal is to keep it out of that area because removal would be very difficult.  Lifeguards thought about towing it in, but they were concerned that the whale might break apart.

"We dispatched one of our fire vessels with a cargo net. Right now they have it wrapped and they have it towed," Greenhaugh said.

The goal is to get the whale to Fiesta Island.  Specialists from Sea World and the National Marines Fisheries Service will do a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Authorities say it is likely the carcass will then be taken to a landfill.

The last time authorities had to deal with a dead whale was about a decade ago when one washed ashore in La Jolla.  Lifeguards said the smell was overpowering.

"Around 10 years ago we did have a whale that floated into the north Birdrock Cove. It was a big chore to try to get that thing out and I can tell you during that time the smell of that thing was horrendous," Greenhaugh said.

Contact Us