SAMISH ISLAND, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A massive fin whale became stranded and died on a Samish Island beach in Skagit County Tuesday.

NOAA Fisheries reports that rescue teams from several agencies responded after the whale was reported stranded but alive Monday night.

The animal had died by the time teams arrived at the scene.

The whale is 61 feet long and weighs about 40 tons, according to experts. They say it was emaciated and in poor condition. NOAA classifies fin whales of this size as subadult, as the whales can reach between 75 and 95 feet in length.

They’ll perform a necropsy and then allow the carcass to naturally decompose on the gravel beach.

Fin whales are the second largest animals on earth after blue whales.