40-ton whale dies amid wave of strandings off Washington state

A 40-ton whale died after becoming stranded on Washington's Samish Island, becoming the latest in a string of whale deaths along the state's coastline. The whale became stranded on the island's gravel beach on Monday night, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's regional branch said on social media . Researchers from local organizations responded on Tuesday morning, but the whale had already died. A photo shows the enormous marine mammal lying in shallow water. …