Wilmington, NC News

An unusual visitor washed up on shore in Oak Island early Sunday morning.

Police called in a team of marine specialists from UNCW to handle this whale of a problem, literally. A 30-foot, baby humpback whale washed up on Oak Island’s beach. Officials said a whale stranding is not uncommon for our area, but this one died out at sea before washing up.

For many, it was a rare occasion to see marine life up close.

“I walk the beach every morning. I came out this morning and I thought a car was in the water because the tide was in and water was coming over it. I came running down here and it was sad to see it was a humpback whale,” said Oak Island resident, Donna Michaux.

Elvin Gordon said, “I saw the crowd down here and just like everybody else I came along to see what all the excitement is about. I couldn’t believe it.”

The task of removing this creature was left up to a team of marine specialists. After an animal autopsy, it was cut into pieces and buried a few feet from where it washed up.

Officials said the whale suffered from abrasions to his fins and mouth from fishing lines.