Week Eleven

Well, this was one of the best weeks of my whole life. 

Growing up close to the Oregon and Washington coasts, I grew used to seeing beached whales and, if I was so lucky, the teams of scientists who made their way down to the animals to necropsy them and make discoveries for the scientific community. I've dissected more squid than I can count, along with a pig, a shark, and many other marine vertebrates and invertebrates to learn more about the physiology and lives of these critters. 

Never in a million years did I dream I'd have the privilege of documenting and assisting with a 47-foot fin whale necropsy in Alaska. 

The massive female first washed up along the Coastal trail in Anchorage back in November. A local museum which had interest in displaying an articulated (a clean and assembled) skeleton reached out to Natalie Rouse and the rest of the AVPS crew, asking what needed to be done. After all, you can't just fly a 20-ton animal to Wasilla and hang it up for all to see. So, after assembling a crew which included the SBB cohort and many other UAA/AVPS volunteers, the paperwork began to certify and register this marine mammal so the real work could begin. 

Once the tides were right (low enough that we could access the whale with time to work) and the weather was clear (not freezing, where a necropsy would be difficult, nor too warm, where the mudflats might melt and put volunteers in danger), we got notice to begin training, register as Marine Mammal Stranding Responders, and make the five hour drive to Anchorage. 

**WARNING: From here, I'm going to insert some photos from the whale necropsy day. If dissections, animal parts, blood, knives, open wounds, etc. make you uncomfortable, please scroll back up to the top of the page and continue to week 12!*** 

Walking away from this experience has left me with profound appreciation for every 

Read the Anchorage Daily News story below!