Winter Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Sighting

Observation: This is the first time that I've seen beluga whales that swam into our bay in the month of January. The bay hasn't been fully frozen for the past 2 or 3 years. It hasn't been very cold in our area. Some people said that they probably swam to the bay from the predators or just passing by.

LEO says: This observation has been shared with the Dillingham Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program. M. Brubaker

Media:

Alaska Public Media (2016-01-27) New arrivals in Kotzebue Sound preying on belugas, "Kotzebue Sound is changing and beluga hunters are facing new competition. Researcher Manuel Castellote at the Alaska Fisheries Center placed underwater microphones in the Sound. Instead of belugas, he found the source of the problem — killer whales..."