Entangled sea creature vanishes in Alaska inlet. Now rescuers are on lookout

Rescuers are looking for an entangled sea creature after it disappeared soon after being spotted in an Alaska inlet, federal officials said.

On Oct. 1, Protected Species Observers working along the Don Young Port of Alaska reported they saw an entangled beluga whale in the Cook Inlet, according to an Oct. 24 news release by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Community members came together to help monitor the movements of the beluga whale and help in case a rescue mission was put in place, officials said.

Then on Oct. 2, the beluga was spotted again, entangled in debris similar to a culvert liner, tire innertube or flap, NOAA said.

Then the beluga vanished, officials said.

Researchers learned the beluga belonged to a known catalog of animals and is at least 7 years old, officials said.

Entangled belugas in the Cook Inlet are rare, according to NOAA, which said the first photograph of the beluga was taken in 2021, officials said.

After getting input from experts, NOAA officials determined the entanglement was “potentially life-threatening,” the release said.

However, disentangling the debris could be hazardous, the federal agency said, and the beluga’s last location was in an area with large tidal waves, strong currents and muddy conditions.

The first step as preparation for a potential rescue mission was taken by 30 volunteers observing the water as they “kept watch for the entangled beluga while documenting all marine mammals,” officials said.

Field biologist and volunteers will continue to look for the beluga, according to NOAA. If found, they will determine if the response can be done in a safe manner.

Due to the colder temperatures and fewer daylight hours, officials believe responding this year will be difficult.

If you see an entangled whale, officials said to call NOAA’S 24/7 hotline at 877-925-7773.

This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 10:27 AM with the headline "Entangled sea creature vanishes in Alaska inlet. Now rescuers are on lookout."