New Jersey officials have identified a mysterious skull with a beak that washed ashore Monday as a Minke whale.
The giant skull emerged on Island Beach State Park and sparked confusion among local residents and responding officers.
The police department had shared photos of the skull on Facebook challenging the public to identify the remains.
“You never know what you are going to find on the beach after a storm. Our State Park Police found this skull at Island Beach State Park on Monday. As soon as we identify it, we’ll let you know. For now, do you have any guesses?”
On Wednesday, Marine Mammal Stranding Center Director Bob Schoelkopf confirmed the skull as that of a Minke whale that had been buried in the area last summer.
“The fact that it washed back up is not unusual. This is a common thing to happen when we bury animals on the beach.”
