After a 2-year pause, NOAA Fisheries and partners announced the return of the Annual Belugas Count! event—Saturday, September 17, in the greater Anchorage area. Members of the public are invited to help spot and count endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales and learn about these iconic Alaska marine mammals from species experts. The event will be held […]
Sea turtle species you might encounter in Alaska and steps to protect them. Unlikely Alaskan Visitors Most people associate sea turtles with warm, tropical destinations. You might be surprised to learn that some sea turtle species can also be found in the frigid ocean waters off Alaska. Seven sea turtle species inhabit our oceans. The […]
Community science along the shores of Cook Inlet. It Takes a Village The Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program is run by NOAA Fisheries in collaboration with several organizations. It offers opportunities for volunteer citizen scientists to bolster monitoring efforts for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale population. The volunteers collect important data on beluga distribution and […]
These pups—often seen alone onshore—are not abandoned. Seal Pupping Season Begins! NOAA’s Alaska Region has already received reports that harbor seal pups have arrived! Pupping season is typically between May and July, but each year a few pups arrive earlier. During the pupping and nursing season, mother harbor seals will leave their pups on shore […]