Our Whale Skeleton
Finny's Journey
On Thanksgiving 2023, a young female fin whale came ashore in Steuben. She was emaciated and barely half the size of a full-grown adult at just 49.6 feet long. After her death, a storm carried her a few miles south, and the tides returned her to rest within the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. College of the Atlantic Allied Whale staff, students, and volunteers recovered her skeleton many months later with support from Maine Beer Company.
Finny, a young fin whale between two and five years old, seen resting here lightly dusted in snow, as College of the Atlantic students trek through winter's quiet to document her story.
Recovering Bones
In spring, students and volunteers return by boat at the direction of College of the Atlantic Allied Whale to gather Finny's bones. Though her life ended here, her journey lives on and her legacy begins—carried forward through science and education.
Hands-on Experience
Finny’s skeleton, suspended above our tasting room, was carefully cleaned and reassembled by Whales and Nails over the course of several months. This effort was led by Dan DenDanto, with assistance from students at College of the Atlantic. From shore to skeleton, their hands shaped a story in bone, giving her a second life to spark curiosity, and connection to these magnificent animals.
A Unique Partnership
Dan DenDanto of Whales and Nails, COA '91 and research associate with Allied Whale describes the unique partnership between Allied Whale and Maine Beer Company.
The Installation Process
The five-person Whales and Nails team worked diligently over three days to assemble and suspend Finny’s skeleton over our tasting room. A tedious process, the time lapse video clip shows the skeleton being lifted from the floor during its installation.
A Fin Whale Called Lunch
Lunch, a fin whale first spotted along the Maine coast in 1982, has what looks like a bite taken out of her dorsal fin.
In 2009, Lunch captured the imagination of Maine Beer Company co-founder, David. Following an unplanned visit to a whale museum on a rainy day, he named our signature IPA after her. Our first nonprofit donation of only $100 began a partnership that has grown over time and continues to this day. College of the Atlantic Allied Whale is leading the way in marine mammal field research. Home to the world’s largest library of photo-identified whales, scientists use this research to follow them by comparing patterns, fin shapes, and identifying marks.
While not Lunch, this fin whale skeleton serves as a reminder of our lasting partnership in support of the wild and majestic marine mammals of Maine.
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
STATUS:
Endangered
FEEDING HABITS:
Lunge feeders, consuming krill, small fish, and plankton
DID YOU KNOW?
Fin whales are nicknamed “the greyhounds of the sea” for their speed and sleek shape
Often seen in the Gulf of Maine, especially near Mount Desert Rock.
The Latin name Balaenoptera physalus means “fin whale that bellows”—a nod to this giant with a towering 20-foot blow!
The fin whale is the second-largest animal on Earth, reaching 80 feet and 80 tons, maturing at 25 and living up to 90 years.
Capable of achieving 25 knots, they are the fastest large whale. Their asymmetric markings aid researchers in photo identification.
