My husband and I took a beluga whale tour of Cook Inlet yesterday with the Beluga Whale Alliance (https://www.belugawhalealliance.org). We watched the bore tide (see https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-bore-tide) roll into Turnagain Arm, and a few minutes later, a pod of belugas followed to eat salmon brought in on the high tide. It was magical to see 6 to 8 white backs surface at steady intervals as the belugas hunted just off the shore.
Belugas have lived in these waters for centuries, but their numbers have dropped dramatically in the last twenty or so years. They’re now endangered, population about 320. Scientists are studying them to narrow down the number of factors affecting the belugas and help us work to create a rebound. The Beluga Whale Alliance is part of that effort, and going on one of their tours is a great way to support them. See more info and ways to lend your support at https://www.belugawhalealliance.org!
My little iPhone could not catch the scene in a way that would do it justice, so I have pulled a couple photos from the Beluga Whale Alliance website to give you an idea of what we were looking at. But if you ever have a chance to hang out on Turnagain Arm right after the bore tide, do that to get the full effect!
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