Seahurst fin whale update: Towed away tonight

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
9:59 PM: Call it “moving day.” Or – night. At Burien’s Seahurst Park, the partial fin-whale carcass that washed up on Saturday is to be moved tonight.

WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams was there throughout the day as it was prepared for the move.

We’ll add more of Nick’s photos later tonight, as well as an update on tonight’s planned move.

11:23 PM UPDATE: Robin Lindsey from West Seattle-based Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network tells WSB, “I just heard from NOAA and the whale is officially off the beach and the tow is underway…

“A good day today with a lot of education on the beach in a team effort. … The whale is being taken to a remote location for natural decomposition and collection of the skull at a later date for educational and research purposes.” Watch for a post on the SS site tomorrow.

10:21 AM WEDNESDAY: The city of Burien, whose park system includes Seahurst, says the removal operation cost it $3,100. Meantime, the aforementioned post by Robin is up; she writes that the whale’s remains are now at the location where they’ll decompose naturally.

4 Replies to "Seahurst fin whale update: Towed away tonight"

  • Annika ZumBrunnen April 17, 2013 (1:17 am)

    What a relief. Thank you.

  • Chris W April 17, 2013 (7:24 am)

    Thanks everybody!

  • MTHS April 17, 2013 (10:36 am)

    Actually made me a little sad to see it being towed. : ( Like a Viking burial.

  • Exploding whale luvr April 18, 2013 (10:10 pm)

    Shoot. I thought if they just used enough dynamite, they could just explode the thing to smithereens. I once suggested that for a whale on the beach in Oregon once, years ago. I think it worked out fine then. Eh.

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