Dead Whale on Beach

Observation by Jaclyn Christensen:

Interesting looking whale/porpoise washed up on the beach August 28, 2016, sighted during a hunting party's ATV journey along the beach north of Port Heiden. Emil Christensen photographed the pilot whale or porpoise, which is a dolphin-looking porpoise, and he describes its location to be ten miles north from Port Heiden's airfield. The whale is estimated to be 20 feet in length and was reported as still bleeding from scavenge wounds by wolves, as tracks were sighted near the carcass site. We have observed many dead whales on our beach shores but I have not seen a whale like this. It's dolphin-like face was really interesting and a massive size and dark black color when I seen the post on Facebook this weekend.

Comments from LEO Editors:

This post was reported to the Alaska SeaLife Center and NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center for review.

Resource:

• Dead or Distressed Marine Mammals, Reporting a Dead Marine Mammal. The 'Animal is Dead,' "What can you do?," "Gather Information then Call," and "Who to call Depending on the Species." Alaska Department of Fish and Game

• Strandings can be reported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. The hotline number at NMFS statewide 24-hour Stranding Hotline: (877) 9AK-RPRD or (877) 925-7773. Resource Information: National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region Office, (NOAA Fisheries)

Media: Science, Space & Robots, New Species of Beaked Whale Identified - A new species of beaked whale has been identified by an international team of scientists. The whale ranges from northern Japan across the Pacific Ocean to Alaska's Aleutian Islands. The black whale is called karasu by Japanese whalers. This is the Japanese word for raven. (2016-07-31)