Stranded pod of Belugas break free with high tide

Photo courtesy of James Magowan About a dozen Beluga whales just south of Bird Point on Turnagain Arm were stranded for several hours after a fast moving tide went out. All the whales were eventually freed by the incoming tide.

Ken Smith/Turnagain Times A kite surfer heads out to a pod of stranded Belugas on Sunday, Sept. 28.

By James Magowan
Turnagain Times Correspondent

Years ago, after seeing humpback whales, bears, glaciers, goats and even killer whales stalking sea lions on a flight over the Chugach and Prince William sound, a friend called it a National Geographic Experience. Since then we refer to our more exciting Alaska experiences as National Geographic experiences. Sunday, Sept. 28 was definitely a National Geographic Day in Turnagain Arm.
Driving up the Arm at about 2:30 p.m., spectators were greeted with an unusual activity out in the Arm—Cook Inlet Belugas stranded by the outgoing tide.
Belugas often follow prey, salmon and hooligan, up the Arm on the incoming tide. When the tide goes back out, so do the Belugas. Sunday was one of the highest tides (31 feet) and lowest tides (-0.02 feet.) of the year in Cook Inlet, which means the water goes in and out fast; which is what caught the whales. They were probably enjoying a salmon dinner and didn’t notice the tide was going out faster than they were, until it was too late.
Estimates of how many belugas were stuck in the sand and mud were running 12 to 15 whales. Later, counting fins tails and bodies in photos on a large monitor revealed to this reporter that the 15 or so that were counted were probably just the ‘first row.’ From the photographs, the number looked more like 20 to 40.
Cook Inlet Belugas are a genetically distinct group. Their population has declined from an estimated 1,300 in 1979 to an estimated 375 in 2007 and 2008. Counting whales can be tricky, as was demonstrated when they are stranded in the mud Sunday afternoon. So whether these population estimates are exact or not, is not as important as the trends they show.
Since 1979 the Cook Inlet Beluga population has declined drastically so the stranding of a significant number, whether 15 or 30 of them, is a matter of concern. This group of stranded whales could be 5 to 10 percent of the total Cook Inlet Beluga population, a devastating number to lose.
In addition to those of us experiencing a ‘National Geographic’ moment, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Barbara Mahoney, who specializes in Cook Inlet Belugas was on the scene to monitor how the whales fared. There were three relatively large groups, one smaller group and a couple of singles stranded on the tidal flats. One large single whale was of particular concern because it didn’t show any signs of movement or life. There was also concern for the survival of what looked like young whales in the groups.
People watched with growing anxiety as the length of time the whales were out of water increased. Each time a whale moved you could hear increased hope for survival in the onlookers’ voices.
At 3:30 p.m., the time of low tide passed nothing seemed to change. It was apparent the tide was no longer running out, but, as far as could be seen, it wasn’t coming in either. Then an extraordinary natural occurrence began to happen, the tide didn’t just begin to rise, it came in as a rushing wave. Extreme low tides result in bore tides and this was no exception. As people watched, the wave crashed over the beached whales and in minutes they were splashing and starting to move.
After several hours of watching and worrying about the whales, it was over in minutes. The cool north wind may have helped keep the whales cool and moist while they were stranded. It appeared that all of the whales, including the huge loner, survived and swam away from their ordeal.
Maybe that one big guy has ‘been there, done that’ before and he knew to just relax and wait for the water to come back.