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Mar 28, 2026

Humpback Whale Freed By Rescuers In Baltic Sea Is Stranded Again | 700WLW

A humpback whale that captivated Germany after a dramatic multi-day rescue effort has become stranded again, raising fresh concerns about the animal’s survival.

The massive whale, estimated to be 40 to 50 feet long and weighing about 15 tons, was freed from a sandbank at Timmendorfer Strand, a popular resort town on the Baltic Sea, after rescuers dug an escape channel on Thursday (March 26). But on Saturday (March 28), the whale ran aground again, having failed to find its way back to the Atlantic Ocean.

The whale was first spotted stuck on an underwater sandbank in the Niendorf district of Timmendorfer Strand early on March 21. Rescue crews, wildlife experts, and heavy equipment were quickly deployed to the scene in Lübeck Bay, in northern Germany.

Rescuers tried several methods before the channel dig succeeded. Boats were first used to create waves around the whale, but the effort wasn’t enough to shift it off the sand. Firefighter drones guiding the rescue were also unsuccessful. A suction dredger failed because the sand beneath the animal was too compacted to remove. Finally, a larger excavator was brought in from Lower Saxony on Thursday to dig the escape trench.

As reported by Euronews, marine biologist Robert Marc Lehmann confirmed Friday (March 27) that the whale had swum through the newly dug channel overnight. Early that morning, the whale was spotted about 300 yards off the coast, being accompanied by a coast guard ship and several boats as it made its way out of Lübeck Bay. But Lehmann cautioned it was “only a small step in the right direction,” warning the whale would only truly be safe once it reached the Atlantic Ocean.

Experts believe the whale is likely a young male. The Washington Post reports the animal appears to be the same whale spotted multiple times in the port of Wismar, in eastern Germany, in recent weeks. Sea Shepherd also removed remnants of fishing gear from a humpback whale off Travemünde, a few miles from the rescue site, suggesting it is the same animal.

The whale’s renewed stranding on Saturday means rescue teams face another difficult operation, with the animal’s health and stamina already taxed by more than a week of struggles in waters that are not its natural habitat. Authorities have not yet announced a new rescue plan.

March 27, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

The body of a deceased sea lion recently found along Morro Strand State Beach in San Luis Obispo County has tested positive for avian influenza or bird flu, marking the first confirmed case in a marine mammal in the county.

While the risk of bird flu to the public remains low, officials ask residents and visitors to avoid approaching marine mammals and seabirds. This is especially important for animals that appear sick, injured, or deceased.

“Stay 150 yards away from all marine mammals and seabirds; keep children and pets away from sick, injured or dead wildlife; and do not approach, touch or attempt to assist marine mammals or seabirds,” according to the California Department of Public Health.

Officials are asking anyone who spots a sick or dead marine animal to call NOAA West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at (866) 767-6114 or the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at (916) 358-2790 for assistance with birds

History of bird flu in SLO County

Positive cases of bird flu have been found in San Luis Obispo  County since 2022 from various wild birds. In 2024, many states, including California, experienced outbreaks of bird flu in dairy cattle. There were 38 confirmed human cases in California linked to exposures from infected cattle between Sept. 2024 and Jan. 2025 with none in SLO County.

Sea lion dies from bird flu in San Luis Obispo County