Biologist Jessica Crance witnessed both sightings personally, and is among a handful of living people who have seen one of this population of right whales up close since the species was devastated by commercial whaling.

NOAA has declared an “unusual mortality event” for gray whales on the North American west coast and launched an investigation.

Our concern has to do with the impact and number of dead whales that might have on our subsistence lifestyle. It is unusual to find so many dead whales.

6-22-12 Three dead whales - Old Harbor, Alaska, USA