A dead humpback whale rested at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park Dec. 25 and marine mammal experts were arriving the day after Christmas to look into the cause of death, while trying to reach state officials on getting equipment there to remove it.

Marine Mammal Stranding Center Director Bob Schoelkopf said at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec 26 that staff was headed to the state park. “They’ll look and see if they can find a cause of death, which may have been a prop hit.”