Dead whale towed from Colman Ferry Dock, to be examined for cause of death (VIDEO)



SEATTLE --  A 32-foot gray whale that turned up dead under the Washington state ferry terminal in downtown Seattle has been moved so biologists can figure out why it died.

A spokeswoman for the Washington State Ferries says the whale was towed from the dock to a nearby location Thursday afternoon. The plan is to move it to another secure waterfront location for an autopsy.

A spokesman with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the female whale was quite decomposed. Michael Milstein says the whale likely had been dead for several days, though it might not have been under the dock that long.

The whale was discovered under a dock late Wednesday. Ferry service wasn't affected, but people reported a foul odor.