KITTY HAWK, N.C. (WAVY) - A humpback whale was found washed up near the Bennett Street Beach Access, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Kitty Hawk Police said wildlife authorities have been contacted for assistance. People in the area are urged to avoid the whale. Courtesy: Kitty Hawk Police Department Officials with NOAA said the humpback is a female around 27 feet long, with visible signs of shark scavenging. They also said whale strandings are common in North Carolina this time of year as they migrate south. Charlie Parker, a Kitty Hawk resident, spoke about seeing the humpback just a few weeks after whales could be seen swimming off the shore. "It's sad, just flat out sad," Parker said. "Because, a couple of weeks ago, there was some whales going by close enough to shore that people could see them, and, you know, the beach was lined with people watching." A necropsy of the whale is expected to take place on Saturday in an effort to gather more information on the stranded whale. Anyone who comes across a stranded whale is urged to contact NOAA Fisheries Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline by phone at 877-942-5343. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.