LOCAL : Burial Planned for Beached Whale

Huntington Beach workers planned to bury a beached gray whale today, after marine biologists took a section of the head for study.

“Our initial plan was to bury the whale (early) today, but there was considerable interest expressed by several marine life organizations,” said Michael Beuerlein, Huntington Beach lifeguard supervisor. Marine biologists from the National Historical Society and the Los Angeles County Museum said they would like to analyze a section from the whale to determine why it died.

Beuerlein said he spotted the whale in the surf at about 3 p.m. Wednesday after he noticed a large number of pelicans, sea gulls, and other marine birds flying over it about 2 1/2 miles north of the pier.