Watching for whales during the Cook Inlet beluga count

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 6

Mayla Hoedel and her mother Sara Hoedel watch 4 beluga whales pass by Bird Point during NOAA’s Beluga Count at Bird Point south of Anchorage, Alaska on Turnagain Arm along the Seward Highway on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. (Bob Hallinen / Alaska Dispatch News)

Federal and state agencies organized a beluga whale count event Saturday around Anchorage that was aimed at bringing people together to spotlight the endangered Cook Inlet species.

People gathered at a dozen stations along the Turnagain and Knik arms to try to catch a glimpse of the white, medium-sized, toothed whales.

Five beluga populations are believed to be in Alaska: the Cook Inlet, Bristol Bay, Bering Sea, Eastern Chukchi and Beaufort Sea stocks, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Cook Inlet's stock is the smallest and most genetically diverse; it was designated "depleted" in 2000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

At two of the stations along Turnagain Arm, Windy Corner and Twentymile River, about a dozen people were taking part in the event Saturday morning. Officials gave them data sheets to fill out.

But the total number of participants was much higher — 1,237, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman Julie Speegle. They made 260 beluga sightings, she said.