OREGON COAST, Ore. — In a dramatic twist of fate, the humpback whale that recently graced Nehalem State Park with its unfortunate presence will not be meeting a dynamite demise. Oregon State Parks firmly announced that they're leaving the explosives in the shed this time around.
"History isn't going to blow itself up... again," stated the agency, winking at a notorious past event.
Whispers on social media had hinted at a grand explosion planned for later this June, stirring up visions of blubber showers like those of the infamous 1970 event when a sperm whale went out with a bang—literally—near Florence. The explosive incident, caught on film by KATU's Paul Linnman, has since been labeled as possibly the first viral news story, leaving behind a legacy of smelly shrapnel and broken car windshields.
Fast forward to today, and while Oregonians do love a good blast from the past, OSP assures that the only thing exploding are the rumors. The Nehalem visitor won’t be repeating history; instead, it's currently morphing into an unrecognizable mass courtesy of a necropsy and Mother Nature's unrelenting touch, making it an eye-watering landmark on the North Coast.
Adding a dollop of seriousness to the mix, the agency highlighted that the real crisis is the disturbance caused to the local snowy plover population. The area is a critical nesting site for these birds, and the influx of curious whale-watchers is wreaking havoc. "Imagine trying to lay eggs while everyone’s stomping around your bedroom—it’s a no from the plovers, and a plea from us: steer clear of the area, folks," OSP explained.
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So, if you're hunting for an explosive spectacle, you might have to settle for rewatching the old footage of the 1970 whale debacle. As for the Nehalem whale, let's leave it to rest in pieces—just not in the way you might think.
n a nod to Oregon's quirky history, we celebrated last year's Exploding Whale Day in style with one of our most popular T-shirts. This tee captured the explosive spirit of the event with a dash of humor and a lot of nostalgia, becoming a hit among locals and visitors alike who wanted to wear a piece of Oregon lore. If you missed out last year or are looking to add to your collection, you can snag this fabulous T-shirt in our online shop. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Oregon's explosively whimsical history!
