Large whale washes up on beach in Shirley, Long Island

SHIRLEY, L.I. -- A large whale washed up dead Thursday morning at Smith Point County Park in Shirley, Long Island.

They say it is a male finback whale, about 58 feet long.

"It's just amazing to see things like this," a resident said.

It's not something you see often, a nearly 60-foot whale on the beach.

"I guess it was his time in life. It's big. It's wild. It's probably something I'll never see again. You never know," said Gary Sulz, a Holbrook resident.

Those with the Riverhead Foundation spent the day examining the carcass at Smith Point Park.

They believe it may be the same whale that was spotted floating off Jones Beach a few days ago.

They say initially it doesn't look as if physical trauma caused the whale's death.

"The internal examination will reveal hopefully any type of evidence to rule out ship strike any internal injuries, broken bones, anything like that," said Kimberly Durham, of the Riverhead Foundation.

"The animal has been dead for some time,"

"Is this all wear and tear from being deceased in the water for a long period of time?" Eyewitness News asked.

"Some of that is helped along scavengers. It may be consistent with sharks,"

Randy Ward says he was the first to spot the whale when he went for his walk on the beach at 6:30 Thursday morning. He told park police.

"It was the first time I ever saw this. I've been around a lot but I've never seen something like this no. It's very interesting," said Randy Ward, a Ridge resident.

A large sea turtle washed up in the same area earlier this week.

It does not appear to be related to the whale's death.

For people being this close to what once was such a majestic creature is awe inspiring.

"It's interesting right now to think how many more of them are in the water right now as we speak," said Paulina Drew, a Mastic Beach resident.

There is no word yet on the cause of death.

The Riverhead Foundation is working with Suffolk County Parks officials to determine how to dispose of the whale.

The foundation says finback whales frequently have been spotted off eastern Long Island in recent months.