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70-foot-long whale beached on Florida’s Gulf Coast

70-foot whale beached off Florida’s Gulf Coast Venice police said the whale is on a sandbar about 50 yards from Service Club Park. (Venice Police Department /Venice Police Department)

VENICE, Fla. — City officials and law enforcement are working to respond to a 70-foot-long whale beached on Florida’s coast.

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Mote Marine Laboratory crews, the Venice Police Department and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office were notified of the whale sighting on Sunday.

Venice police said the whale is on a sandbar about 50 yards from Service Club Park.

Officials identified the whale as a sperm whale and said it is “alive at this time.”

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People are asked to avoid the area.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Mote Marine will conduct assessments.

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