MUKILTEO, Wash. (AP) — A whale watching group believes a humpback whale struck by a Washington state ferry is unlikely to have survived, while the state has asked residents to watch for a wounded animal.

The Pacific Whale Watch Association says the whale was struck by the ship Monday near Mukilteo. The ferry Tokitae departed at noon and was alerted about a pod of the 50-foot-long whales being in the area.

The agency says the whales came close to the ferry and when one of them surfaced in front of them, the ship did not have time to stop before striking it.