Whale Buried at Heceta Head State Scenic Viewpoint (PHOTOS)

The true cause of this whale's death may remain a mystery.

Photos courtesy: Oregon State parks

(FLORENCE, Ore.) - A fin whale carcass that washed ashore at Heceta Head State Scenic Viewpoint Sunday was successfully buried at the same beach Monday, according to Chris Havel with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

"Florence-based Leisure Excavating, working with state park staff, buried the 55' long, ~30-ton carcass above the high tide line at the park in an 11' deep hole."

"The corpse will decompose naturally," Havel said.

The park will return to normal operating hours Tuesday, March 10th, which are from 7:00 a.m. to dusk.

Havel says Marine Mammal Stranding Network biologist Jim Rice completed his work to attempt to determine the cause of death (a necropsy), but has not yet released any findings. The true cause may remain a mystery.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's Whale Watching week arrives during spring break, from March 21st-28th.

Volunteers will staff 26 watching stations from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. each day. Gray whales are the species seen most often.

More information: whalespoken.org/OPRD/PARKS/WhaleWatchingCenter/watch_weeks.shtml

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