PACIFIC COUNTY, Wash. — A whale spotted for the second time in one week on the Willapa River is deceased, according to the non-profit Cascadia Research Collective.
On Wednesday, biologists with Cascadia Research Collective closely monitored what they believe was a juvenile gray whale in the north fork of the Willapa River, the nonprofit said.
“This whale, although thin, was behaving normally and does not appear to have any injuries. A team is out today to relocate the animal and further assess the situation. We are giving the whale time and space to leave the river on its own, but plans are being made with our partners at NOAA and WDFW if intervention is needed in the coming days,” the non-profit said.
Cascadia Research Collective is a non-profit research and education organization focused on whale and dolphin populations in Hawai’i and along the west coast of North America.
The Willapa River cuts through the town of Raymond, located off of State Route 101 and State Route 6 in Pacific County.
The town has an approximate population of 2,910 residents, according to city officials.
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This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.