From previous experience around a dead whale, do not walk on the sand anywhere near it. Your shoes will smell like dead whale (and what a fine fresh scent it is), and repeated washings will not remove the smell. I lost a nearly new pair of Nikes in high school that way.

Fin Whales are not really that prevalent around here. . .It must have been way away from it's usual range, and sick, or injured. I was just thinking that most creatures die pretty horrible deaths. If we are lucky, we die in bed, or asleep.

Did anyone watch Kingdom of the Blue Whale last night on NatGeo? It was fascinating. As a matter of fact, the scene where they beach-dissected a dead whale was one of the most gruesome things I have ever seen. I was also nearly able to smell the carcass through the television screen, the image was so visceral, with all that viscera.

Whoa. I had no idea that the exploding whale was from 1970!

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A lone whale I can see ending up on the beach when sick/dying. What really worries me is when you see a bunch of whales or dolphins, etc. beaching themselves. It makes me wonder what they're trying to tell us.

Mostly whales just fall, as it is termed.

Danf, that was a neat article, thanks!