Pair of Sweat Pants Among Garbage Found in Beached Whale's Stomach

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Biologists who examined a gray whale that died after getting stranded on a West Seattle beach say it had a large amount of garbage in its stomach -- ranging from a pair of sweat pants to a golf ball.

The scientists say most of the whale's stomach contents was algae -- typical of the bottom-feeding mammals. But they say a surprising amount of human debris was found. Besides the pants and golf ball, there were more than 20 plastic bags, small towels, duct tape and surgical gloves.

The 37-foot whale beached itself last Wednesday.