ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Federal whale experts say they made a strategic cut to a line entangling a juvenile humpback whale in the Juneau area that they hope will allow the animal to free itself.
Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say a team of five experts were able to cut the gear on one side Wednesday after the whale was spotted west of Auke Bay, near Favorite Reef.
Officials say the animal is the calf of a whale commonly seen in the Juneau area. The entanglement was first reported more than a week ago.
Officials say they want to hear about sightings of the calf and its mother. They ask that people stay at least 100 yards away from the animals, and ask that any sightings be reported.
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