A dead whale washed up on the Atlantic City shoreline was found with graffiti on it's side on Thursday, Philly.com reported.
The letters appeared to read "Tau Epsilon Phi" followed by "94" in a lavender spray paint. The fraternity, based in New York, has nearby chapters at Rowan University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Rutgers University.
A call for comment to the chapters at Rutgers-Camden and Rowan were directed to the national organization, which could not be reached by Philly.com.
Atlantic City Police Sgt. Monica McMenamin said photos of the whale were turned into the department's intelligence unit for further investigation.
The whale was first discovered around 8 a.m. by boardwalk ambassadors, Philly.com said. Similar graffiti was also found on the Central Pier.
Bob Schoelkopf of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said the two-ton minke whale -- dead or alive -- is a federally protected animal.
"To do a dead animal, that's ridiculous," said Schoelkopf. "It came in, somebody found it under the pier and tagged it."
Schoelkopf assisted the city's public works crews in burying the whale eight feet beneath the beach near the pier.
The whale was dead for three or four days, authorities said, and a cause of death is unknown.
A dolphin was also found dead on the shore seven blocks away. However, the incidents seem to be unrelated.
