Skip to main content

Dead Humpback Whale Found in Southampton Village

Thu, 11/14/2019 - 14:19
The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society received word of a dead humpback whale on the beach at Halsey Neck Lane in Southampton Village on Thursday morning.
Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

An emaciated humpback whale was found dead in the surf at Halsey Neck Lane in Southampton Village on Thursday morning. 

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the lead large whale response organization in New York State, said a member of the public reported the humpback whale at 8:35 a.m. The response team arrived about two hours later and worked with the Southampton Village Highway Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue team to conduct a necropsy.

The examination was completed around 3:30 p.m., and showed that the whale was a female humpback approximately 27.5 feet in length. "The animal was emaciated and there were no significant findings," the society said in a statement Thursday evening. The team took samples that will be sent to a pathologist to help determine the cause of death. Results may take several months. 

The whale was buried onsite. 

According to the conservation society, Thursday's discovery was the 13th large whale death and seventh humpback it has responded to investigate this year. An unusual mortality event has been in effect for humpback whales since 2016. 

“As we continue to build capacity for large whale response in the area, working with network partners and individual townships is essential,” said Rob DiGiovanni, the society’s chief scientist. “Being able to pull resources together quickly for a response like this prepares us for a number of other response efforts on all scales. We’re grateful to have had all of these groups come together and support us today.”

As a reminder, if you see a marine animal in distress, contact the New York State Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829.

 

Villages

Tariffs Are Sobering News for Liquor Stores

It’s not clear when, or if, President Trump’s European alcohol tariff will ever go live. Nonetheless, the threat is looming over South Fork wine and liquor retailers, who have been forced to react to the uncertainty. 

Mar 27, 2025

East Hampton Star Shines at Better Newspaper Contest

Durell Godfrey, The East Hampton Star’s longtime staff photographer and a fixture at community events from Montauk to Southampton, has once again been named one of New York State’s top photographers. At the New York Press Association’s annual conference last week in Saratoga Springs, The Star’s newsletter also repeated in winning first place in the Best Newsletter category, capping a successful awards season for the paper. 

Mar 27, 2025

A Short Parade That’s Become a Big Success

For the first Am O'Gansett Parade in 2009, the organizers jokingly promised Clydesdales, Macy's balloons, and floats. With good humor and an enthusiastic response from the community, the very short parade has been an annual event ever since.

Mar 20, 2025

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.