Marine Mammal Stranding Network Archives

Spoutin’ around town: gray whales find haven in Sitka Sound

by Meredith Redick | May 22, 2023 | Local News, Syndicated

While reports of gray whale strandings along the Pacific coast have jumped since 2019, there’s at least one place where these whales seem to be thriving. Hundreds of gray whales migrating from Mexico to their Arctic feeding grounds are stopping in Sitka along their route. Read More

Thanksgiving whale rescue required specialized tools, ‘love pats’

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Nov 27, 2018 | Local News, Syndicated

The humpback whale which was successfully disentangled on Thanksgiving Day in Southeast Alaska was caught in heavy mooring lines, and was anchored to the bottom -- making the rescue especially challenging. Read More

Save the gravy! Team postpones Thanksgiving to free entangled whale

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Nov 23, 2018 | Local News, Syndicated

A humpback whale is swimming free after being untangled from mooring lines near Prince of Wales Island on Thanksgiving Day (11-22-18). A NOAA biologist and a local pilot postponed Thanksgiving dinner to disentangle the whale. Read More

‘Confused’ sea lion wanders Sitka street, waiting to go home

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Aug 31, 2018 | Local News, Syndicated

Authorities are taking a “wait-and-see” approach with a large sea lion that was discovered early Friday morning (8-31-18) in the roadway near Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka. Officials with NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network believe the sub-adult male is frightened and confused, and will eventually return to the water on his own. Read More

Researchers look for clues to sea lion’s death

by Anne Brice, KCAW | Feb 22, 2013 | Local News, Syndicated

A Steller's sea lion washed up onto the rocks in Sitka Sound last Friday. Soon after, a group of Alaska scientists performed a necropsy to find out how it died. What they didn't know is what they would find inside. Read More