KITTY HAWK, N.C. — A juvenile female humpback whale is dead after washing up near the Bennett Street Beach Access in Kitty Hawk on Friday.
The town of Kitty Hawk posted about the beached whale on its Facebook page. According to the post, wildlife authorities were contacted for assistance.
News 3's Outer Banks reporter, Will Thomas, was at the scene and captured pictures and video.
Watch related coverage: Some locals blame wind turbines for whale deaths
Marina Doshkov, stranding coordinator for the North Carolina Aquariums, confirmed the type of whale and said a necropsy would be performed Saturday morning to determine the cause of death.
There have been about a dozen dead whales that washed up in 2024 on beaches in Virginia and North Carolina, according to News 3's prior reporting.
Environment
Timeline of whales that died off Virginia, NC coast in 2024
The whale deaths have been attributed to a variety of causes, from parasites to entanglements.
Despite activist claims that the deaths have been caused by offshore wind farms — either directly or indirectly — there has been no conclusive evidence from marine officials in Virginia or North Carolina.
