ROCKAWAY PARK, QUEENS — A 28-foot-long humpback whale washed ashore Tuesday at Jacob Riis Park in Queens, according to state environmental officials and the nonprofit Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.

In keeping with social distancing guidelines issued by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, scientists with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society did not examine the whale, according to a news release. This is the first stranded whale reported to the New York-based Atlantic Marine Conservation Society's stranding response team so far this year.

"It is always unfortunate when a whale washes up on our beaches," Atlantic Marine Conservation Society chief scientist Rob DiGiovanni said. "By working together, we strive to collect as much information as possible to help understand the cause of mortality."

As the weather becomes warmer and more animals are in the area, New Yorkers are urged to keep an eye out for marine life while they are in the water and walking on beaches.