‘White specks’ seen in Alaska waters are endangered sea creatures. ‘Not a drill’
.jpg "A group of endangered sea creatures was spotted in Alaska.")
A pilot spotted “white specks” in an Alaska bay and realized it was a pod of sea creatures, Alaska officials said.
The pod of beluga whales was seen off the coast of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, with the park pilot spotting over 30 Cook Inlet belugas just off the beach in Chinitna Bay, according to a Feb. 7 Facebook post by the park.
A July 2024 study showed the population is classified as endangered, and 331 remained in 2022.
This means the moment captured showed about 10% of the population, officials said.
So it’s safe to say, this was “not a drill,” the post read.
Beluga whales are dark gray as calves, then their skin lightens when they reach physical maturity, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
They are known as the “canaries of the sea” by the whistles, moos, chirps and clicks they make to navigate and hunt their prey, NOAA said.
Chinitna Bay is about 140 miles southwest of Anchorage.
This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM with the headline "‘White specks’ seen in Alaska waters are endangered sea creatures. ‘Not a drill’."