Subsistence hunters in Alaska’s North Slope Borough have harvested a 41-foot bowhead whale, marking the fourth animal that has been captured during the borough’s spring whale hunt.
KTUU-TV reports Benjamin Frederick Tagarook and his crew brought in the whale on Saturday in Wainwright. The captain’s father, Terry Tagarook, says migrating whales seem to be making an appearance earlier than usual this spring.
The weekend’s harvest comes after a crew in the village of Point Hope landed a whale on April 10. A 43-foot female bowhead was harvested on April 5, and a 42-foot male was captured on March 27.
Whalers on St Lawrence Island landed two whales earlier this month.
