A dead whale was discovered drifting in the ocean near Torrey Pines State Beach Thursday, leaving authorities mulling how best to dispose of it.
The roughly 18-foot carcass, believed to be that of a juvenile gray whale, was spotted about three-quarters of a mile offshore about 9:30 a.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
"It looks like it's been dead for a while," San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Lee Swanson said.
City lifeguard officials attached ropes to the carcass and used a rescue boat to tow it south to Mission Bay Channel and from there to Fiesta Island, arriving Thursday afternoon.
It remained unclear at midday, however, whether crews would start the towing process while the carcass was still at sea, or perhaps wait until it washed ashore, the spokesman said.
