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© David G. CurranOfficials examine a dead Minke whale which washed ashore on a Truro beach overnight on Monday, August 18, 2014.
A minke whale spotted bleeding off the coast of Cape Cod on Sunday died and washed ashore at a Truro beach on Monday morning, The Cape Cod Times reported.

According to the report, the whale, estimated to be between 20 and 25 feet long and weigh between three and five tons, was found when volunteers from the International Fund for Animal Welfare Marine Mammal Rescue and Research program went looking for it early on Monday.

Researchers are planning to conduct a necropsy, but have not yet decided whether it will be performed at the scene or whether the whale will be moved to a separate site first.

The report indicated that this is the third minke whale death this season. One died last week near Barnstable Harbor and another died in June near Provincetown.

Source: The Cape Cod Times