38 Pilot Whales Die on Cape Cod Beaches

EASTHAM, Mass. — Thirty-eight pilot whales have died after dozens stranded themselves along a 20-mile stretch of Cape Cod seashore, rescuers said Saturday.

Rescue crews used front-end loaders and heavy rubber rafts in attempts to refloat some of the survivors among 43 whales that came ashore Friday at Cook’s Brook Beach and other sites along the popular vacation area.

Three were pushed back out to sea and two were brought to an aquarium, where one later died.

“A young juvenile died shortly after it arrived,” said Cynthia Gage, a spokeswoman for Sealand of Cape Cod in Brewster. “The other, which appears to be a nursing calf, is in our rescue pool with a dolphin we’ve had since last January.”