Residents were stunned after a huge whale was spotted in a river.
The juvenile gray whale is thought to have swam around 20 miles inland.
Officials were busy making a plan to help the whale and get it back to where it belongs.
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Sadly, however, the mammal was found dead just days after being spotted.
The sea mammal was spotted in the Willapa river, Washington in the USA.
On Thursday, it was spotted by Rob Allan of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, as reported by Need To Know.
“The whale is still in the general area and has been feeding in the sediment off and on normal for this species,” he said at the time.
“We’re coming back tomorrow to continue to evaluate, and putting together a plan for a response with a larger team if needed.
“Make sure to advise people not to approach the whale—we want to give it the time and space it needs to hopefully make its way out on its own.”
The whale was then monitored by authorities.
Sadly it was reported over the weekend that after disappearing it was found dead.
On Saturday, a spokesperson for Cascadia Research Collective said: “We are saddened to confirm that the whale seen in the Willapa River over the past few days is deceased.
“We are working with local partners to evaluate the safety of the location to conduct an examination.
“We ask the public to please stay away from the whale.
“We thank you for your support.”
Two dead gray whales also washed ashore Thursday on Copalis Beach, in Grays Harbor County, Washington.
The pair of adult whales — one male, one female — were malnourished, biologists reported Sunday.
One of the whales also had signs of blunt force trauma that appeared consistent with being hit by a boat.
The latest deaths bring the state’s total to six so far in 2026, higher than is typical in an entire year in Washington, said John Calambokidis, senior research biologist and a founder of the Cascadia Research Collective.
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