Dead 50-foot whale towed from bay to Fla. shore

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Authorities had to tow a dead 50-foot whale to shore after it was found floating in a Tampa Bay channel.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Marine unit got involved on Sunday because the animal was a shipping hazard. It was being taken to Fort De Soto for a necropsy.

The whale was reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about 9 a.m., and deputies found it an hour later. Once the transport boat arrived, it was expected to take 3-4 hours to reach the shore.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)