Bryde’s whale washes ashore in only known sighting of the animal in B.C.

By Canadian Press on May 16, 2025.

PORT MCNEILL — Another dead whale has washed ashore on a British Columbia beach, the third over two weeks, but a marine wildlife expert says there’s likely no connections to the deaths.

The Namgis First Nation says in a statement that a resident reported finding the whale Wednesday on a beach near Port McNeill, B.C., and experts who have examined the animal say it’s a Bryde’s whale – a species rarely seen in waters north of the same latitude as Los Angeles.

Jackie Hildering with the Marine Education and Research Society is among the researchers on-site, and says this is the only known sighting of a Bryde’s whale in B.C.

The latest discovery comes after two dead grey whales were found on B.C. coasts this month, one in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve near Tofino and the other in Haida Gwaii near Skidegate.

Hildering says researchers believe the deaths of the grey whales may be the result of the animals running out of food in the Arctic, making them susceptible to starvation, which wouldn’t be connected to the cause of death for this Byrde’s whale.

Namgis Chief Victor Isaac says in the statement that a necropsy of the Bryde’s whale will be done to determine the cause of death, and the community is “deeply concerned” by the “rarity of this species appearing so far north.”

“Namgis First Nation is very sad and concerned with the climate crisis and the health of our oceans,” Isaac says. “We will work with all parties to determine what has happened to this individual and hopefully come to better understand how to be the best stewards of our awi’nakola – our environment,” the statement says.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.

The Canadian Press