A juvenile sperm whale that beached on the shores of Hilton Head Island was euthanized Sunday night likely drifted hundreds of miles before finding its way to the Hilton Head shoreline Officials said sperm whales often beach themselves when they are seriously ill or injured including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and marine mammal specialists “We understand how difficult this is to witness, and we appreciate the community’s compassion and patience,” the town said in an update on Facebook The town said euthanasia was determined to be the most humane option for the whale but they needed more euthanasia medication from out of state due to the size of the animal The whale was euthanized by a veterinarian Sunday night with specialized equipment sourced from Florida "A necropsy will be performed to help scientists learn from this loss and better understand the challenges marine mammals face The whale will be respectfully buried following that process." "Thank you to everyone who showed up with compassion and care — both in person and through your messages," the town posted on Facebook "These moments remind us of the power of community and our shared responsibility to protect the natural world." An excavator prepares to bury a grave for a sperm whale that washed up along a Hilton Head beach A sperm whale beached itself on Hilton Head Island on May 3 A sperm whale beached on Hilton Head over the weekend was euthanized by officials overnight Sunday Crews worked May 5 to bury whale on the beach HILTON HEAD ISLAND — A juvenile sperm whale was euthanized late on May 4 after being discovered stranded on one of Hilton Head's mid-island beaches The whale was sedated and then euthanized by a veterinarian from the University of Florida the Town of Hilton Head Island posted on social media The medication and equipment needed to complete the operation also needed to come from Florida 20-ton sperm whale beached itself near the Marriott Grand Ocean Resort around 5 p.m The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network is the South Carolina marine stranding permit holder which leads the state's washed-up water animal response in partnership with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Officials with NOAA and other marine mammal experts spent Sunday keeping the whale comfortable by splashing water and laying towels on it Crews on May 5 worked on the beach to bury the deceased whale Sperm whales are a federally-protected endangered species that dive thousands of feet under the surface to catch squid Whales often beach themselves when they are seriously injured or ill so sharks can't detect their illness and prey on them as they're dying There isn't deep water for more than 100 miles off the shore of Hilton Head Island so "it's really strange that it was this in this shallow-water area," Keuhn said A necropsy is planned to help determine what may have led to the whale beaching itself The whale is expected to be buried on the beach at the conclusion of the necropsy The death investigation will help scientists understand the challenges facing marine mammals Beached whales are rare events in South Carolina a 29-foot male juvenile humpback whale was found dead at Sunset Beach according to the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network There reportedly was one in 2024, and four washed up on Edisto Island in 2019 In 2014, a 15-foot, 700-pound pilot whale died after stranding itself on another Hilton Head beach In 2012, several whales navigated to Palmetto State beaches A 13-foot short-finned pilot whale was stranded in northern Beaufort County in a marsh on Hunting Island Another whale was found dead about a half-mile away in the Story River A 15-foot whale washed up on Edisto Island as well a mass-stranding event occurred on Kiawah Island outside Charleston Reporters Kailey Cota and Mitchell Black contributed to this story News tips/online questions: newstips@postandcourier.com Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: A whale that beached itself on Hilton Head Island on May 4 has been euthanized which officials have identified as a juvenile sperm whale was sedated and euthanized the night of May 4 Calling the whale’s death "a peaceful and humane passing after a long journey," officials said a veterinarian from the University of Florida euthanized the whale Experts will perform a necropsy to determine how the mammal died How did the whale get to the beach?News of the whale first made its rounds on social media the morning of May 4 The whale was still alive that morning and experts were trying to keep the animal comfortable the Town of Hilton Head Island Government said The Town of Hilton Head Island Government said on social media that the whale was "severely emaciated," and likely drifted for hundreds of miles before it made it to the Hilton Head shoreline whales typically beach themselves because they are seriously hurt or sick euthanasia has been determined to be the most humane option," officials wrote adding that the type and amount of euthanasia medication needed for the whale needed to be brought in from Florida Beached whale is part of a vulnerable speciesThe International Union for Conservation of Nature, or the IUCN, considers sperm whales a vulnerable species. Species categorized as vulnerable face high risk of extinction in the wild The sperm whale was also listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sperm whales have extremely large heads that make up about one-third of their total body length There are usually between 20 and 26 large teeth on each side of the whale’s lower jaw while the teeth in the upper jaw typically don’t break through the gums Male sperm whales can measure 60 feet in length, while smaller females can measure 37 feet, per the Marine Mammal Center They are the largest of toothed whales and have one of the biggest global distributions of any marine mammal species Their names are derived from the waxy substance in their heads The substance is an oil sac that helps the whales focus sound making sperm whales a primary target for commercial whaling between 1800 and 1987 The species is still recovering but numbers are likely increasing and they can dive to over 10,000 feet for over 60 minutes sharks and other fish that are typically found deep within the ocean Most female sperm whales form bonds with other females in their families social units are made up of about 12 females and their calves Females tend to stay with their social units their entire lives but males leave between the ages of 4 and 21 years old Officials in Hilton Head who cared for the beached whale thanked the NOAA for its help. Local officials also thanked Amber Kuehn, executive director of Sea Turtle Patrol a nonprofit that monitors and supports sea turtle nesting activity on Hilton Head Island beaches and the Town’s Beach Operations Manager Mike DeMaria and his team were instrumental in responding once the whale became beached on the island Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is up and running again after a bomb threat forced passengers to evacuate the facility The call was placed to the police department at the airport at noon Saturday Additional law enforcement and the FBI were called to the scene The airport announced a security risk on their Facebook page and told passengers they should expect flight disruptions for the afternoon The terminal building was evacuated and inbound traffic was rerouted away from the airport More: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport announces security risk, flight disruptions “We evacuated the building and went through protocol,” said Lori Lynah senior director of marketing and air service development “We cleared everyone and then the bomb squad swept the building Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHILTON HEAD - A sperm whale that washed ashore on Hilton Head Island on Sunday has been euthanized According to Hilton Head Island’s Facebook page experienced marine mammal teams sedated and euthanized the whale late Sunday night The equipment that was used was sourced from Florida and administered by a veterinarian from the University of Florida The whale was believed to be a juvenile and severely emaciated The Facebook post goes on to say that the whale likely drifted hundreds of miles before washing ashore A necropsy will be performed to help scientists learn the cause of the whale’s death Whales typically beach themselves when they are seriously sick or hurt a veterinarian from the Georgia Aquarium is on their way to perform euthanasia on the whale A sperm whale beached itself on Hilton Head Island on May 4 A sperm whale beached itself on Hilton Head Island HILTON HEAD — Trained professionals are working to keep a sperm whale comfortable before euthanizing it after the whale beached itself on the barrier island according to marine biologist Amber Keuhn who stayed with the whale overnight Experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and marine mammal experts spent May 4 keeping the whale comfortable by splashing water on it and laying towels on it Euthanasia medication is being transported from Florida, and a veterinarian from the Georgia Aquarium will euthanize the member of the largest toothed whale species late on May 4 or early on May 5, depending on when the medication arrives, according to a Town of Hilton Head Government social media post "Euthanizing them is a humane way to go ahead with that process It would be a disservice to push the animal back when it beaches itself and it's that weak."  Experts will perform a necropsy during the morning of May 5 to determine the whale's illness "It's really out of the ordinary to have that species wash up here," Keuhn said The last time a large whale washed up on Hilton Head Island was in 2014 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHILTON HEAD ISLAND (WTOC) - A sperm whale that washed ashore on Hilton Head Island on Sunday has been euthanized a Facebook post from the Hilton Head Island Irishfest announced that the parade’s founder Reilly founded the event in 1983 alongside friends and family members the parade has grown to become of the most beloved and popular events on Hilton Head and is also South Carolina’s oldest parade Hilton Head High School dance teacher Victoria Montgomery was arrested Friday for having an inappropriate relationship with an adult-aged student who she taught HILTON HEAD ISLAND — Law enforcement arrested a Lowcountry dance teacher for having an inappropriate relationship with an adult-aged student whom she taught The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office arrested Victoria Montgomery on May 2 for becoming involved in sex or sexual battery with a student 18 or older in which there is direct supervising authority and no aggravated force or coercion the charge carries a prison sentence of up to five years and is considered a felony Montgomery had "sexual intercourse with the victim during which sexual penetration occurred," according to an affidavit signed by Beaufort Deputy Zachariah Cushman Montgomery was hired by the Beaufort County School District in August 2021 Allegations against Montgomery were reported to the school on April 30 according to district spokesperson Candace Bruder She said the school immediately notified law enforcement An incident report provided by the sheriff's office is mostly redacted but showed that Principal Steven Schidrich contacted law enforcement and that the student took a number of classes with Montgomery She also supervised the student for an internship at the school Montgomery is currently on paid administrative leave Schidrich said Montgomery's classes would be taught by a substitute teacher or another certified educator In the note he did not refer to her by name "We recognize that situations like this can raise concern Be assured the situation is being addressed accordingly in cooperation with law enforcement," he said in the email Montgomery was released from the Beaufort County Detention Center on May 3 after she received a $25,000 personal recognizance bond A judge directed her to stay 1,000 feet from the student not make contact and not approach their home or workplace Beaufort County schools prohibit employees from engaging in sexual misconduct exploitation or abuse irrespective of age proximity Tony Kukulich and Jessica Wade contributed to this report The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport announced Saturday that due to a security risk passengers should expect flight disruptions for the afternoon The post was made on their social media page but did not provide any further details The terminal building is being evacuated and inbound traffic is being rerouted away from the airport A 31 foot long sperm whale beached itself along the shore at South Forest Beach on Hilton Head Island in Beaufort County on Saturday evening According to social media reports on Sunday morning Authorities have been pouring water on the whale and covering it in wet towels to try to help it The Town’s posting said that trained professionals including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and marine mammal experts are on the beach keeping the whale comfortable A veterinarian from the Georgia Aquarium is on their way to perform euthanasia on the whale and the specific type and amount of euthanasia medication is currently on its way from Florida The whale was first spotted along the beach on Saturday evening around 6:30pm, and low tide was coming at 8:17pm, which, combined with the imminent darkness, made any care for the whale or the chances of saving it that much more difficult. Social media postings with photos started pouring in right away. A certified Marine Biologist in the area was on the scene starting on Saturday night and volunteers with the Sea Turtle Patrol spent the night on the beach keeping the whale company as best they could According to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida there are around 2,000 strandings each year worldwide with most resulting in the death of the animal Beachings are rare enough that they are not a significant threat to any species live animal is usually the result of sickness or injury and hunting too close to shore also contribute to beachings WSPA 7NEWS A whale beached itself Saturday night on Hilton Head Island NOAA spoke exclusively with WSAV about what the next steps are The sheriff's office said a person of interest has been detained Read more: https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/deputies-on-scene-at-shooting-in-anderson-co/ including ones with United Way of Greenville County and United Way of the Piedmont were terminated due to a shift in federal priorities Read more: https://www.wspa.com/news/top-stories/upstate-americorp-members-impacted-as-doge-terminates-grants/(opens in a new tab) More than 3,800 checks will be mailed out to people in South Carolina in the coming weeks as the State Treasurer's Office works to return hundreds of thousands of dollars in unclaimed property Read more: https://www.wspa.com/news/state-news/thousands-of-south-carolinians-could-receive-a-check-from-the-state-treasurers-office-this-month-heres-why/ The Travelers Rest Planning and Development Committee denied the request to annex 19-acres to build "The Inn at Altamont" on Monday night Read more: https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/request-to-annex-land-for-hotel-on-paris-mountain-denied-whats-next/ The sheriff's office will share video of the shooting on June 18 Read more: https://www.wspa.com/news/1-dead-in-greenville-co-deputy-involved-shooting/ announced Monday that he’s not running for U.S Senate in 2026 against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff READ MORE: https://www.wspa.com/news/state-news/georgia-republican-gov-brian-kemp-wont-run-for-us-senate-seat-in-2026-against-democrat-jon-ossoff/ Police are asking for the public’s help as the investigation into a shooting at an Upstate mall last Friday continues READ MORE: https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/police-ask-public-to-share-video-footage-of-spartanburg-mall-shooting/ Accessing available healthcare that is more conveniently located is now a reality for people living in Piedmont The Anderson County Coroner is enroute to a shooting on Checkerberry Lane in Pendleton SC Bill would require every school board meeting to be recorded and posted Two men were fishing in Buncombe County on Sunday when they reportedly found a body If you’re looking to book an easy vacation this summer with friends and family consider Hilton Head Island in South Carolina Krystin Rae learns more about the places to stay and things to do while visiting the island getaway More information on things to explore on Hilton Head Island can be found at the website link, available when clicking here! a restaurant on the south end of Hilton Head has become a popular spot for island locals and visitors seeking quick and healthy eats I learned about Healthy Habit’s weekly meal prep bundles and decided to give them a try Our family is so glad that we did because not only are they fresh and delicious the pre-cooked and individually packaged meals make dining at home so convenient Some busy weeknights I have good intentions to cook dinner but when the time comes I’ve run out of time or energy.  Thankfully having several Healthy Habit meals in the fridge that are ready to microwave means that we still eat a healthy meal together that everyone enjoys.  Our family favorite menu items are steak and mushrooms the Philly cheesesteak bowl and blackened chicken with carrots  We often change up our bundle selection to try different meals because we all know that variety is the spice of life -All weekly meal bundles must be ordered online before 9pm on Friday for pick up at Healthy Habit in the Park Plaza Shopping Center on the following Sunday or Monday -All meals contain grass fed beef or all natural chicken and are gluten free -Four bundle options are available and each contains ten meals: -Taxes and fees are in addition to the above costs -You will also be charged a $10 cooler bag deposit but will get that back in the form of a credit when you return the bag Interested in viewing the bundle menus or trying out a weekly meal prep bundle?  Visit Healthy Habit online and use the code WELCOME20 to save $20 off your first order!  If you subscribe weekly consider stopping in for a meal.  Their diverse menu spans from breakfast to lunch and includes salads açaí bowls and smoothies.  Gluten intolerant folks vegetarians and vegans all rejoice at Healthy Habit because of numerous menu options to meet their dietary lifestyle  I love the Taverna Chicken salad with romaine It’s freshly made to order (mine without tomatoes) and refreshing to enjoy during our hot summers  Tech savvy eaters also love the ease of ordering online and quickly grabbing snacks and meals to go.   Brooke is a Hilton Head local and shares her best tips for island life with her Instagram @hifromhhi followers Previous Next Copyright © 2024 JBP LLC. Managed by Web Service Kits Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBEAUFORT COUNTY (WCSC) - The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office says they located a missing man who was believed to be in danger hours after he disappeared who was said to be terminally ill and on oxygen Monday leaving his Hilton Head Plantation home in his 2005 Dodge Magnum Investigators said there was concern for his safety and asked the public to be on the lookout for him The sheriff’s office confirmed on Tuesday morning that deputies found the man in the early evening hours on Monday They did not say where he was or provide further details (WCIV) — A 71-year-old woman who was reported missing on Hilton Head Island was found safe Friday evening according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office who had been reported missing and was considered endangered at her residence on Wedgefield Drive in Indigo Run Authorities were particularly concerned for Finn's wellbeing as she suffers from Alzheimer’s disease she was wearing a purple vest and blue jeans There’s a ton of excitement surrounding this burger in the Low Country   It is fair to say Tin and Tallow’s burgers have been the most popular burgers in the area since they first rolled out in the Fall of 2023 Tyler Bowdish and his wife Josi moved to the area from Michigan with plans to eventually have a restaurant Less than a year and a half after they came on the scene Tin and Tallow Burgers opens Friday to the public at 2 Spanish Wells Road on Hilton Head Island They’ve taken over the space formerly occupied by Jarvis Creek General Store The seating and televisions outside always get the attention at this venue but Tyler tells us the makeover they gave the inside (it’s beautiful) was hoping that people would want to enjoy one of their burgers protected from the elements.  Heat in the Summer or cold in the Winter Jesse: When did you first roll out your food truck Jesse: Did you think it would shoot out of a cannon popular like it has just trust in the process of it.  But no JB: How long after you opened in October of 2023 did you guys look at each other and say ‘oh wow we were behind Barnacle Bill’s.  It was kind of a slow crawl back there.  All word of mouth with friends and family which ironically was the first place we sold breakfast The Farmer’s Market was from 9 until Noon and I thought “no one is getting a burger for breakfast” so I did those croissant sandwiches for it who’s a regular at Locals Only told us they were looking for a food truck That got us on the street and in front of different people Then Lot 9 Brewing Company messaged us and said ‘hey would you have interest in coming over here.’ We had 4 spots on a rotation where we kinda developed our consistency It was at Lot 9 that people started telling us they were coming specifically to get our burger We almost had 2 separate followings.  But it was really Locals Only that gave us the visibility JB: Was the goal always a brick and mortar Did this happen more quickly than you thought The goal was always a brick and mortar but we didn’t have the finances to do it.  When this came up it was kind of out of nowhere.  We didn’t have to build out a kitchen it put us in position to do it a lot sooner JB: Tell me about the work you guys did on the space Tyler: We took out a lot of coolers and shelving and merchandise type stuff Being here late with some of our employees painting and putting together furniture and just watching the vision come alive has been pretty special but no ever really ate inside.  That was a big thing we wanted to do was make it comfortable You told me the breakfast menu will stay small Are you going to do more now that you have space Tyler: We are still going to have the weekly specials We are still going to have a feature burger every week Come Springtime we are talking about having feature sandwiches   Maybe a week of Maine Lobster Rolls That’s just something we’ve been tossing around Maybe an additional side like onion rings.  Just another option for people Tyler: Right now we will be six days a week Breakfast will be 7:30am until 10:30am.  Then lunch and dinner will go 11:30am until 8pm JB: And the truck that made you famous?  Parked for now Tyler: That’s correct.  We are hoping to purchase a new mobile unit in the Spring and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Previous Next