Sweat pants, golf ball, other garbage found in stomach of whale that stranded in Seattle

Garbage in stomach of whale found in Seattle

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Biologists who examined a gray whale that died after getting stranded on a West Seattle beach say it had a large amount of garbage in its stomach — ranging from a pair of sweat pants to a golf ball.

The scientists say most of the whale’s stomach contents was algae — typical of the bottom-feeding mammals. But they say a surprising amount of human debris was found. Besides the pants and golf ball, there were more than 20 plastic bags, small towels, duct tape and surgical gloves.

The 37-foot whale beached itself last Wednesday.