FREQUENCY OF KILLER-WHALE (ORCINUS-ORCA) ATTACKS AND SHIP COLLISIONS BASED ON SCARRING ON BOWHEAD WHALES (BALAENA-MYSTICETUS) OF THE BERING-CHUKCHI-BEAUFORT SEAS STOCK

Bowhead whales of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock harvested by Alaskan Eskimos were examined for scars from killer whale and ship-col lision injuries. We estimated that the frequency of scars from killer whale attacks ranged from 4.1% to 7.9% (depending on our confidence th at the whale was properly examined) while about 1% exhibited scars fro m ship collisions. The frequency of killer whale scars was considerabl y lower than for bowhead whales of the Davis Strait stock and for othe r baleen whales where data are available, and was significantly lower (P < 0.05) for whales < 13 m. Patterns for both types of scars were qu ite similar to those reported for other cetacean species. Spaces betwe en rake marks were within the range of interdental measurements from f our killer whale skulls. The occurrence of attempted killer whale pred ation and ship strikes inferred from scars has not prevented the BCBS stock from increasing.