Dead Whale Washes Ashore on North Litchfield Beach

A dead whale washed ashore on North Litchfield Beach near Shorebird Loop on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. Georgetown County Public Information Officer Jackie Broach confirmed that officials responded to the scene to investigate the stranding and manage the area.

Response efforts for stranded marine mammals in South Carolina are led by the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN) in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Responders conduct necropsies to determine cause of death, though full lab results and tissue analysis can take up to eight weeks. Georgetown County officials have not yet released details regarding the timeline of the initial response, specific beach access closures, or disposal plans for the carcass.

This incident marks the latest in a series of strandings along the Grand Strand in recent years. Past incidents include a pregnant dwarf sperm whale on Garden City Beach in June 2026, a juvenile humpback whale near the North Carolina state line in March 2025, and a pygmy sperm whale near Myrtle Beach State Park in 2023. Scientists note that small, deep-diving offshore species like pygmy and dwarf sperm whales often wash ashore along the northern South Carolina coast due to regional shoreline contours and underlying illness.

Members of the public who encounter a beached whale, dolphin, or seal—whether alive or dead—are instructed not to touch the animal or attempt to push it back into the water. Stranded animals can carry transmissible diseases, and federal law prohibits handling marine mammals or removing body parts. Any stranding should be reported immediately to the South Carolina 24-hour wildlife hotline at 1-800-922-5431 or the Southeast regional stranding line at 1-877-942-5343. Offshore whale sightings can be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF channel 16.