You don’t often see humpback whales 60 miles from the ocean. Photo: Norely Faz © The Marine Mammal Center//NOAA
Fishermen thought they were going crazy as they saw whale spouts in the Sacramento River last week alongside the town of Rio Vista. But on closer inspection, that’s exactly what they saw: a humpback whale swimming in freshwater more than 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Now, according to the Marine Mammal Center, the whale has changed course and is heading west back to the ocean. Whales can adapt to freshwater, but too much time away from saltwater can cause skin problems and infections.
“While it’s unknown whether this whale is just passing through or if there is an underlying, unknown ailment, the best thing people can do is experience this adult whale’s presence from a respectful distance,” said Kathi George, Director of Cetacean Conservation Biology at The Marine Mammal Center. “This whale is in an out-of-normal habitat area. Our team is actively monitoring the situation, and we kindly ask the public to please avoid changing the whale’s course and let the animal decide where it wants to go.”
This particular humpback is well known. Cascadia Research Collective’s photo-ID program has documented it 15 times over the past 24 years between California and Mexico. The whale was first recorded in 2002 and was last seen in Baja California in February of this year.
The Marine Mammal Center says it’s rare to see whales swim up the Sacramento River, but it’s not unprecedented. In 1985, a humpback whale spent several weeks around Rio Vista, and in 2007, a mother and calf spent 20 days in the Sacramento River Delta before returning to the ocean.
