A third dead beluga whale has been reported in Cook Inlet in just a matter of days.
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It’s not uncommon to find dead and stranded beluga whales this time of year, said Verena Gill, a supervisory biologist for NOAA Fisheries.
“We often see a pulse in the fall,” Gill said. “So, not concerned right now. Obviously, it’ll be good to figure out what’s going on, but it is not particularly alarming.”
In total, 11 Cook Inlet beluga whales have been reported dead this year. Generally, eight to 15 are found deceased each year, Gill said.
It will take months before NOAA Fisheries determines the beluga’s cause of death, Gill said.
NOAA Fisheries was first notified about two dead beluga whales floating in Knik Arm on Monday.
One whale, identified as a 22-year-old female nicknamed Treasure, was towed to the Ship Creek Small Boat Launch in Anchorage on Tuesday.
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Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, working with NOAA Fisheries staff and volunteers, performed a necropsy on the whale. There were no visible signs of trauma, Gill said.
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Alaska Natives were able to harvest the blubber from the whale, Gill said.
The whale found near Ship Creek was identified by her unique markings, which is how many Cook Inlet belugas are tracked, Gill said. Photos are taken in partnership with the Cook Inlet Beluga Photo-ID project.
“Many of them have a long history,” Gill said.
Treasure was first photographed in 2005. Her nickname stems from the markings on her back that look like a treasure map.
A third dead beluga spotted near Tyonek was towed to a beach Tuesday afternoon. However, pathologists were unable to reach the whale Wednesday afternoon because of ongoing weather conditions.
The other dead beluga whale is still floating in the water and was last seen between Birchwood and Ship Creek, Gill said. She asked anyone who sees the whale, in water or ashore, to call the NOAA Fisheries 24-hour hotline.
Cook Inlet beluga whales are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The whales reside in the inlet year-round and are genetically distinct from other beluga populations.
In 2023, scientists estimated that the Cook Inlet beluga population was around 331.
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