2 more gray whales found dead in Alaska; total reaches 12

KODIAK, Alaska – Two more dead gray whales have been reported in Alaska, bringing the total to 12 this year.

The Kodiak Daily Mirror reports a juvenile gray whale last week was spotted floating 10 miles south of Egegik (EE-geh-gik) in Bristol Bay.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also confirms a dead gray whale washed up Sunday on Sitkinak Island east of Kodiak Island.

NOAA Fisheries spokeswoman Julie Speegle says the whales will not be necropsied because of their locations and decomposition.

Eight-three whales have died in U.S. waters, eight in Canada and 78 in Mexico.

NOAA has declared an “unusual mortality event” because of the large number of gray whale deaths. Gray whales migrate from calving waters in Mexico to feed in Alaska and many of the dead have been malnourished.

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Information from: Kodiak (Alaska) Daily Mirror, http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com