Dead whale removed from Southold creek
A whale that became stranded in Southold’s Goose Creek Thursday has died, officials said.
The 20-foot marine mammal, at 4,360 pounds, became stranded as the tide went out and officials were unable to free it before nightfall. Crews used rope to tie to the whale’s tail and drag it out of the creek. Shortly after 9:30 a.m., Friday the whale was removed.
“We brainstormed how to get it out,” said Southold Highway Department Superintendent Dan Goodwin. “And it went smoothly.”
Kim Durham of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society said Thursday that this type of whale, known as a minke whale, has been stranded in East Hampton before, but never in the bay. The marine crews will perform a necropsy to examine the whale at the town landfill.
Southold Town police said a paddleboarder in the creek spotted the whale Thursday. Police said Friday morning the conservation society believes the whale was under-nutritioned and may have had a neurological condition.
Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley was at the scene Friday and said he recalled a pilot whale that was stranded by the Goose Creek bridge years ago.
