NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- A dead whale that keeps returning to the Southern California coast has been towed out to sea -- again.
The 45-foot-long humpback called Wally was hauled away Wednesday after drifting near Dana Point in Orange County. A Harbor Patrol boat towed it 10 miles out to sea in a 3 1/2-hour operation.
Wally -- actually, a female -- was first towed after washing up on Dockweiler State Beach in Los Angeles County before the Fourth of July weekend.
The decaying carcass was towed again a week later when it drifted toward San Pedro.
Wally was spotted near Newport Beach on Sunday and was towed out a third time but drifted back on Monday and had to be removed again.
Currents have been pushing the carcass south.
