Dozens of dead whales have been washing ashore in Alaska, and nobody knows why. In the past four months, more than thirty dead cetaceans have been found along the state's southwestern coast. The ordeal has everyone freaked out. Except bears, who appear to be having an awesome time.

NOAA has declared the string of strandings an "unusual mortality event." And while "horrific environmental mystery" seems like a much more appropriate label, this is actually a bureaucratic term that allows the agency to begin formal investigation, convening with state, federal, and tribal partners to figure out what is causing the whales' deaths.

Right now, the death toll is 11 fin whales (like the one pictured above), 14 humpbacks, and one gray whale. This is in addition to four other unidentifiable cetacean carcasses. The agency will post updates to its unusual mortality event website.