Authorities on the Oregon Coast were trying to figure out the best way to deal with a 40-foot Gray Whale that washed up on the beach near Newport over the weekend.

Wendy Schouviller

The 40-foot California Gray Whale washed up near Seal Rock sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning.

David Woody, a Beach Ranger for the Oregon State Parks Department, said the adult California Gray Whale washed up on shore near Seal Rock sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Woody said it appeared the animal had been dead for at least a few days. He said the Coast Guard actually spotted it about five miles off-shore Saturday afternoon.

Wendy Schouviller

Beach-goers gathered Saturday morning to get a glimpse of the giant sea mammal.

Woody said reports that the whale had washed ashore started coming in about 7:00 a.m. Sunday.

Members of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network based out of the Hatfield Marine Science Center in

Newport were headed to the location to examine the whale. They will have to figure out how to move the

animal from its current location before any close examination would be possible. The whale is apparently in a particularly rocky portion of the beach, making access to it difficult.

A necropsy may be performed on the animal to try and determine an exact cause of death. Woody said there were no obvious signs of trauma to the whale's body that he could see.