Humpback whale found on Oregon Coast likely died after getting struck by ship

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After a young humpback whale turned up dead on the Oregon Coast, drawing quite a crowd over the weekend, officials say have now figured out the animal's cause of death.

Drone video captured on Rockaway Beach on Sunday first showed the 34-foot humpback whale’s carcass floating along the coast near Rockaway Beach for more than a day, until experts say the body ultimately washed ashore at Nehalem Bay State Park on Monday morning.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the whale appeared to be bloated, which meant it'd likely been dead for several days.

After conducting an initial exam of the body on Monday, the team performed a full necropsy on the juvenile male on Thursday -- cutting into the carcass to examine the internal organs to better understand the animal’s health, what it ate and why it died.

The necropsy reportedly found significant bleeding, bruising and swelling on the right side of the whale's head, which officials say was likely caused by a vessel strike. This is one of the more common causes of death for humpback whales on the West Coast, according to NOAA.

As the remains of the whale are still on the shores of Nehalem Bay, Oregon State Parks is urging the public not to visit the scene to avoid further disturbing threatened western snowy plovers that nest nearby. No dogs, bikes, kites, noise-producing equipment or vehicles are allowed, says the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.