Humpback Whale Found Dead Near North Myrtle Beach

A juvenile humpback whale was found dead near North Myrtle Beach, near the North Carolina-South Carolina border, between March 15 and March 22, 2025. The 29-foot male whale was first observed floating off Oak Island before washing ashore. The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network and the University of North Carolina Wilmington Marine Mammal Stranding Program are investigating the incident. Preliminary findings suggest the whale sustained trauma before its death, with the exact cause requiring months of tests and analyses to determine. Weather conditions initially delayed the response from marine mammal experts, highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing marine mammal strandings. This event underscores the importance of understanding human and environmental factors contributing to such incidents.