The ocean off our coast is home to several species of cetaceans, including dolphins, sperm whales, humpback whales, and killer whales. North Carolina maritime history includes whaling and dolphin hunts, and whale strandings happen on our beaches. (A humpback whale was stranded just this week in Corolla.)
Keith Rittmaster, the natural science curator at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort, NC, will present a hour-long slideshow along with some hands-on display items. He'll talk about whales, whaling history, conservation efforts, and a few case histories including the creation of a skeletal display of a 33.5' sperm whale that stranded at Cape Lookout in 2004. There'll also be time for some Q & A.
Have you seen a whale near Ocracoke? If so, please let us know in the comments. Share your photos! Whale sightings are fairly common in the winter months. Perhaps Mr. Rittmaster can tell us why.
Come out on Monday, February 9th at 7pm at Deepwater Theater to learn about these giant creatures of the deep. The "Coastal Whales in NC" program is sponsored by Ocracoke Alive.
