Oregon
What necropsy report said about entangled whale on Oregon Coast
Video: Learn about resident whales along the Oregon Coast
During summer, gray whales can be spotted along the shore of the Oregon Coast.
An entangled humpback whale that stranded near Yachats in November 2025 had chronic diseases in multiple organ systems that likely contributed to the stranding, a final necropsy report concluded.
The whale’s empty stomach and intestine also indicated that it had not eaten for weeks, leaving the whale with minimal fat stores, according to the report, by the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the Gary R. Carlson, MD, College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University.
On Nov. 15, 2025, the young male whale was stranded on a beach north of Yachats, on the central Oregon Coast. It was euthanized Nov. 17 after attempts to return it to the ocean were unsuccessful.
The whale was entangled in fishing gear leftover from the 2023-24 commercial Dungeness crab season.
In February 2026, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to deny a petition to modify commercial crabbing rules to reduce the risk of whale entanglement, although it urged the state agency to continue its current efforts to reduce the number of whales getting caught in fishing lines.
The failed rescue attempt was heartbreaking for dozens of volunteers and the thousands of members of the public who spent a few days following along, hoping the whale would make it back to open water.
The laboratory’s examination found evidence of spinal cord disease, likely caused by an infection, according to the report.
The whale’s intestine and colon had signs of severe widespread inflammatory disease, likely the result of intestinal parasites.
The whale, which was about 1 to 2 years old, also had evidence of chronic congestive heart failure as well as acute heart failure resulting from the stress related to the stranding.
“When I look at all the results in the context of what we know about the whale, there are many signs it was having problems long before the stranding,” said Dr. Kurt Williams, director of the laboratory and lead pathologist on the case. “My interpretation of events is that the animal’s pre-existing disease challenges contributed to the whale’s entanglement and then to the live stranding.”
Williams reviewed the findings with marine mammal pathologists and scientists from around the world before finalizing the report.
“We hope the findings from this case expand our understanding of whale diseases and spur future investigations to understand and improve the health of whales and the oceans around the globe,” the report reads.
The Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, coordinated by Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute in Newport, responded to the stranding in coordination with other partners.
The Oregon program is part of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network and responds to strandings on the central and southern Oregon Coast.
Tracy Loew covers the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on X at @Tracy_Loew
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Department of Human Services is asking for help finding a 2-year-old boy who is believed to be in danger.
Armani Andrews disappeared on June 17 and is thought to be with someone in the Portland area, officials said.
He’s about two feet tall with brown hair and brown eyes and African American/mixed race, ODHS said.
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Armani Andrews (file, courtesy Oregon Department of Human Services). -
Armani Andrews (file, courtesy Oregon Department of Human Services).
Locations around Portland that the child may have frequented include the Rose Haven shelter on Northwest Glisan Street, the Multnomah County Central Library on Southwest 10th Avenue and Southeast Portland between 82nd and 103rd avenues.
People who have any information about Andrews’ whereabouts are asked to call 911.
Every year, there are always a few recruiting races that are anything but normal. Twists and turns should be expected on the recruiting trail, but you can still always count on a surprise or two.
The Oregon Ducks have already landed four commitments along the offensive line in the 2027 recruiting cycle, most recently scoring three-star Lex Mailangi. The Ducks are still pushing for one more, however, and it’s the biggest of them all.
Five-star offensive lineman Ismael Camara has taken several visits to Eugene, including one earlier in the spring. However, the Texas star canceled his tour of official visits to finish high school early and give Gilmer High School his best effort on the field in the fall.
Those plans changed quickly when he opted to take unofficial visits to SMU and Texas in June. After once appearing to push his recruitment to the fall and commit closer to early signing day, it’s clear that Camara is now open for business, and he could be moving quickly toward a decision.
When Camara left Eugene in the spring, the Ducks were perceived as a favorite in the race. However, after spending time away and connecting with programs in his home state of Texas, Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman believes Texas is now in the lead, and was told by one of Camara’s family members that a commitment could be coming soon.
While the Longhorns are in charge, SMU, LSU, Texas A&M and Oregon all still remain involved. While he has been able to tour the Texas programs this month, Camara has remained in touch with the Ducks over FaceTime.
“Just fantastic coaches and options all around,” Camara’s guardian, Todd Robison, told Rivals. “We are also in touch regularly with Tennessee, LSU, A&M, and Alabama. He also has had very well-attended FaceTime calls with the entire staff at Oregon. He feels the love for sure.”
The Ducks still appear to be in good standing with Camara, but the inability to get him on campus this month is a big setback. Even if Camara does commit over the summer, the Ducks will likely push hard to get him back to Eugene in the fall for another visit. Don’t expect Oregon to give up on this race until pen hits paper on signing day.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Editor’s note: In 2016, WW expanded its Cheap Eats guide to include a road trip. We identified nine diners, food trucks and one boat worth a pit stop when journeying through Oregon. Since then, a few things have changed: Two of our picks have closed, as noted below, and you don’t need to travel to Medford to find an In-N-Out Burger. But maybe you should!
This list first appeared in the March 23, 1016, edition of WW.
TAQUERIA GUERRERO
508 E 1ST ST., NEWBERG.
Half tienda, half taco spot, Guerrero serves its street tacos and huge mojado burrito ($8.95) with handmade tortillas that shame almost anything in Portland.
JOE’S DONUT SHOP
39230 PIONEER BLVD., SANDY.
This 40-year-old candy-striped dough den offers a ridiculously rich cronut—that’s a fried croissant—fast service, and always-fresh doughnuts. It’s arguably the best doughnut shop in the state.
THE DINER
2580 SE STRATUS AVE., MCMINNVILLE.
The Diner makes one of the state’s greatest sandwiches—a fried-chicken club in which each layer is seasoned and housemade, and the middle slice of bread is replaced by the satisfying crunch of fried chicken.
EASTWIND DRIVE IN
395 WANAPA ST., CASCADE LOCKS.
The Eastwind is where Cheryl Strayed first tasted civilization after ending her long, long walk. The soft-serve ice cream is good enough for you, too, motherfucker.
BOWPICKER FISH & CHIPS
1634 DUANE ST., ASTORIA.
At this 28-foot converted gillnet boat, there are always 12 old men waiting in line for beautifully fresh-caught, hand-battered albacore tuna served with a raft of fries. Join them.
LOCAL BOYZ HAWAIIAN CAFE
1425 NW MONROE AVE., CORVALLIS.
A sweet shoyu chicken plate lunch will fill you up until dinner tomorrow. But broke high-school kids will buy rice for $1.50 just so they can douse it in the magical ginger-garlic-shoyu sauce.
IN-N-OUT
1970 CRATER LAKE HIGHWAY, MEDFORD.
With an address that already sounds like a road trip, the magnificent double-double has punctured the state line. Even from as far away as Portland, it beckons.
NOW CLOSED:
FAT FREDDY’S
6320 PACIFIC AVE., PACIFIC CITY.
After a brief hiatus best forgotten, Pacific City’s beachfront home of towering burgers and equally towering Tillamook ice-cream milkshakes returned two years ago to the sound of hardening arteries.
CORNBREAD CAFE
1290 W 7TH AVE., EUGENE.
It’s arguably Eugene’s best restaurant, and it’s also a perfect fit for the town—a vegan version of an old-school diner, complete with barbecued seitan and outrageously good greens.
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