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." 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 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 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 LinkedInSAVANNAH (WTOC) - A bomb threat at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport prompted delays Saturday According to a post on the airport’s social media page “Due to a security risk passengers should expect flight disruptions for this afternoon The threat caused the entire airport to be evacuated Saturday afternoon Passengers should proceed the parking garage areas All inbound roadway traffic is being rerouted away from the airport.” Delays at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport are causing delays elsewhere People trying to leave from Atlanta Harstfield-Jackson Airport were also delayed Saturday afternoon airport officials tell WTOC that everything had cleared and staff and passengers were being allowed back into the building 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 marine mammal biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was one of more than a dozen scientists helping to conduct a necropsy on a beached sperm whale on Hilton Head Island May 5 who was euthanized by veterinarians after it was determined to be too emaciated to survive A sperm whale beached on Hilton Head over the weekend was euthanized by officials overnight Sunday Crews worked May 5 to bury the whale on the beach HILTON HEAD ISLAND — A somber, curious crowd of beachgoers gathered early May 5 to take in an unusual sight among the umbrellas and lounge chairs. The body of a male sperm whale lay beside an excavator, dragged several meters from the spot it had beached itself two days prior Scientists and volunteers from multiple agencies worked beneath the hot sun to cut and collect samples from the body hoping to understand what caused the seemingly ill marine mammal to meet its unlikely end on a Hilton Head mid-island beach near the Marriott Grand Ocean Resort Experts rushed to its side soon after it came ashore They determined that the emaciated 31-foot 20-ton animal was too sick or injured to navigate the waters it once patrolled Returning to sea could mean becoming chum for sharks As a veterinarian from the University of Florida traveled across state lines to sedate and euthanize the whale splashing it with water and covering its dark grey body with towels Determining cause of death could take time "We could tell from the beginning that it wasn't in good health because it was very skinny," said Clay George South Carolina's marine stranding permit holder, the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network coordinated the response with NOAA and other state agencies Sperm whales spend their days traveling in pods diving thousands of feet underwater in mere minutes to chomp on squid Sometimes they can mistake plastic or other marine debris as prey But scientists could not immediately determine why the animal headed to the resort island shores Sperm whales typically traverse deep waters which are more than 100 miles from Hilton Head "It's really strange that it was in this shallow-water area," marine biologist Amber Keuhn said There is a scant history of whale beachings in South Carolina In 2012, several whales navigated to Palmetto State beaches A 13-foot short-finned pilot whale was stranded in northern Beaufort County in a Hunting Island marsh Another whale was found dead about a half-mile away in the Story River A 15-foot whale washed up on Edisto Island a mass-stranding event occurred on Kiawah Island outside Charleston The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network typically sees a whale beaching every one to two years finding themselves stranded on South Carolina coast between 50 to 60 times per year it's exceptionally rare to see a beached sperm whale Caution tape sectioned off a wide section of beach Dozens of representatives from responding agencies worked in an organized flurry of activity Sharp knives were used to cut into the body as scientists peeled back layers of blubber in search of answers "It smells like the ocean," an onlooker said There's no glaring indication of what made the whale ill "I think it’s important for people to realize executive director of the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network we’re here to make them comfortable and learn as much as we can." The whale that found its way to Hilton Head was buried above the tide and along the dunes Its indentation would be swept away by the next high tide there will be no indication that this happened," George said 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 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 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 20-ton sperm whale beached itself near the Marriott Grand Ocean Resort around 5 p.m Sperm whales are a federally-protected endangered species that dive thousands of feet under the surface to catch squid according to marine biologist Amber Keuhn who stayed with the whale overnight 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 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 Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day 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 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 ISLAND, S.C. -- Si Woo Kim didn't make a bogey until the final hole Saturday at Harbour Town By then he had played well enough that he still posted a 5-under 66 and wound up with a one-shot lead at the RBC Heritage Kim birdied the opening two holes to immediately catch 36-hole leader Justin Thomas and the 29-year-old South Korean came up short on the par-4 closing hole and made bogey "I played great -- only missed the last hole So I'm not going to worry about the last hole for tomorrow He was at 15-under 198, one shot ahead of Andrew Novak (66) and Thomas who had a most interesting day that ended with a 15-foot birdie for a 69 Thomas was assessed a one-shot penalty from a waste area on the par-5 second hole when he notified a rules official that his ball moved a fraction while he was removing some loose gravel around it he tried to splash out of some shallow water in a hazard and muddied his shirt and face loud enough for the gallery to hear and to laugh seeking his first PGA Tour victory in nearly three years was trailing by three shots on the 18th tee and left the green only one shot behind an athletic player who has had three close calls at his first PGA Tour win played without a bogey and missed plenty of good birdie chances He did well enough to get into the final group with Kim who had three birdies over his last six holes for a 68 Defending champion Scottie Scheffler had a rough stretch early on the back nine that derailed his momentum though he still managed a 68 and was very much in the game at only four shots out of the lead Scheffler hit a brilliant escape from the trees the ball never gaining more than 10 feet of altitude from 160 yards away but it was too strong and rolled against the lip of a bunker He had to make an 8-foot putt to salvage bogey 12 and left himself a fast pitch (bogey) and then hit a demanding lob wedge over the bunker to 3 feet on No The weather has been getting warmer and windier by the day enough to make the course fast and crispy and enough movement in the trees to cause some second-guessing It doesn't take much for players to lose momentum This is a signature event with no cut and the scoring average has been roughly the same all three days He opened with a pair of 6-foot birdie putts His longest birdie putt was on the par-5 15th when he got out of position and had to make an 18-footer Thomas has said he is capable of ending his three-year drought and simply needs the tournament to unfold instead of forcing the issue This was only a 69 but important to him because he managed a round under par when it felt like nothing was going right it was nice to see an iron shot get up there pin-high and roll that putt in there It's nice to finish off like that and ride that momentum into tomorrow." 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 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 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!