CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

We should be concerned about it and it should be monitored. Historical records should be checked as I think this has been going on forever. It may be part of a natural balancing within the enviroment.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Maybe they think its December 21, 2012 when the world tilts 90 degrees so the oceans become dry land and dry land becomes oceans. Whales probably aren't very good at reading Mayan calendars and some are a little too early.

Can't you people have fun in Chit-Chat once in a while instead of ripping each other's asses all the time?

CanonJC

Concur

CanonJC

Respectful your concerning. Really no necessary to worry for now therefore there have no alert alarm from oceanology reseachers yet. These situations are not unusually happened. Please, believe Bmac and others.

Photoquilter Loc: Virginia

The article said that strandings have been documented far back, but also said there is ongoing research to see if something present-day is causing the number of strandings to increase. The article did not dismiss such concerns. It included red tide and sonar interference, among other possibilites, as things they were studying. Alarmed? Maybe that is too strong a description, but certainly there are many researchers who are looking into the matter.

cudakite Loc: San Antonio

DUDE!! Are you related to ole sarge or is this really ole sarge?? lol

icanimagine Loc: Sacramento, Ca

Stupid people have opinions also. For instance, imho I think you all need to relax. Believe it our not, ( I don't need journals to know this); The gulf oil spill did have and will have devastating effects for years to come.

handgunner Loc: Windsor Locks, Connecticut

Whale use whale song as well as clicking noises to identify and locate other whales in their pod as well as locating other pods in the area. It is also being studied if they use sonar echolocation to locate a food source and pinpoint it's location before they dive. May they also use it to determine the depth of the water? If the bottom is very sandy or silted they may not get the correct return echo. if it does not come back properly if at all giving the whale the impression that the bottom is so far down the signal is lost where it is only inches below. The Air Force was toying with this and uses a type for the Stealth Bomber.

I found this link for the sake of discussion: http://www.science20.com/squid_day/do_sperm_whales_use_sonar_stun_giant_squid

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

Guys.....quit squabling and tearing each other apart. The US NAVY uses high powered side scan sonar and this can effect both whales and dolphins. It somehow damages the inner ear and causes then to beach themselves to avoid the harsh sound and pain. There have been attempts by animal rights organizations and the SIERRA CLUB to cease and desist the NAVY from using this form of sonar to map huge areas of ocean or search for hidden subs, but all attempts have failed to have any serious consideration by the military officials. They consider this loss of oceanic mammals as a consiquence that can not be avoided in the name of national security. WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN IF YOU WANT TO RESOLVE THIS MURDER OF OCEANIC MAMMALS.
There is also a VIRUS that effects ocean mammals that causes them to go crazy and beach themselves, but to date no antidote or antiviral agent has been discovered to control this disease. RED TIDE is another way that many oceanic mammals can get bewilderred or sick and die.
I suspect that this recent incident was caused by side scan sonar though and not any red tide since that can be seen from orbitting weather satelites and none have been reported near Florida or Scotland lately. With the advent of GLOBAL WARMING and warmer oceans though, the incidence of red tide may increase in the future.
And to make my opinion here more plausible, I did oceanographic research for Columbia University for 10 years and have seen these disasters from the use of sonar and the effects of red tide.

Archy Loc: Lake Hamilton, Florida

No...this has been happening since the dawn of time.................

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

The climate has been changing since the creation of the earth (even before man was here to cause trouble). Look at the ice ages. I for one am glad it warmed up a little since then.

Phreedom Loc: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

I'm no marine biologist either. Wikipedia article says about 2,000 beachings take place each year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beached_whale
Records of such abound throughout history. Proposed reasons are as numerous as the beachings.