Another Dead Humpback: In Alaska

KODIAK -- A dead humpback whale that washed ashore at Fort Abercrombie State Park last week may be there to stay.

The 30-foot, 2-year-old whale was discovered Aug. 14 and has probably been dead three-and-a-half to four weeks, said district park ranger Kevin Murphy. Murphy said Fort Abercrombie staff have two main concerns about the whale.

"The Marine Mammal Protection Act, and more importantly, the Endangered Species Act protects those guys, even after death," he said. "So collection of soft or hard parts, bone or baleen or blubber is illegal." Murphy said tampering with an endangered species comes with a hefty $25,000 fine. He said that information is posted around the park, because there have been some bones disappearing from the carcass over the past week.