Tag: Whales

Orcas kill gray whale in rare predation event off L.A.

A rarely seen pod of marine mammal-eating orcas is presumed responsible for killing the 25-foot gray whale.

**UPDATE: Orcas might not have killed the whale despite an initial claim by a prominent researcher. An examination of the carcass after the whale washed ashore revealed possible shark bites, but results of a necropsy are pending.  We apologize for any erroneous information that might have been provided by sources.

Two Los Angeles-area boaters on Saturday spotted a juvenile gray whale that had recently been killed by orcas and was missing most of its head.

Alisa Schulman-Janiger, director of the ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project, told FTW Outdoors that Jean Huber and Christy Varni discovered the floating carcass at mid-morning less than a mile off Marina del Rey.

Huber and Varni, project volunteers, said the orcas, or killer whales, were not present. But they said tooth-rake marks (common after orca predation) were evident on carcass.

Schulman-Janiger, also Lead Research Biologist for the California Killer Whale Project, said the orcas are likely the same five orcas spotted farther south, off Orange County, on Thursday.

Gray whale carcass missing much of its head. Photo: Jean Huber

They were photo-identified by Schulman-Janiger after Thursday’s sighting as Bigg’s killer whale CA56 and her three kids, along with a closely associated female, CA133.

“I can’t say for sure that this was them, but they were confirmed to have killed at least one common dolphin on Thursday,” Schulman-Janiger said.

Bigg’s killer whales prey predominantly on other marine mammals, including gray whales. But virtually all previous gray whale predations have involved much smaller calves.

The CA56/CA133 pod has only been documented seven times as of Thursday, with most sightings logged off Monterey in Central California.

Until Thursday, the farthest south these orcas had been documented was off Santa Barbara in December 2023.

Young whale, likely hit by ship, washes ashore in Huntington Beach

The whale carcass was initially found with a rope around its tail at a mussel farm in Long Beach, Ca.

*UPDATE: This post has been updated with input from NOAA Fisheries regarding the likelihood that the whale had been struck by a ship.

A 26-foot humpback whale that was found deceased and entangled in  commercial mussel-farming gear this week off Huntington Beach washed ashore Saturday morning just south of the city pier.

On Friday, Planet Whale shared footage of the bloated whale carcass at sea, with a weighted rope wound around its tail section. The juvenile whale might have been struck by a ship and killed before the carcass had become entangled. (Footage posted below.)

“When I saw that rope I got MAD. In the last few years the number of entangled whales I’ve seen with my own eyes has hit double digits,” wrote Erica Page of Planet Whale. “And we frequently see whales with evidence of prior entanglement. THIS IS NOT OKAY!”

On Saturday, images surfaced showing the carcass rolling in the surf.

The image atop this post was shared to Facebook by Keith Wehner, who wrote: “Something I haven’t seen before. If you aren’t doing anything later, removing it may be interesting to watch. South of the pier at Tower 3.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFO0Ko6vMxh/

Late Saturday, NOAA Fisheries issued a statement explaining that a necropsy had been performed on the whale and that “preliminary analysis showed significant blunt-force trauma to the right side of its head that could be indicative of a ship strike.”

NOAA Fisheries said it won’t release an official cause of death until necropsy results are analyzed.

‘Heartbreak in San Diego’ as baby whale found with no mom; video

“The young whale approached our boat multiple times, likely in a desperate attempt to nurse from our hull.” 

The operators of a San Diego whale-watching company on Sunday were greeted by a newborn gray whale that was without its mom and desperately craving milk.

Domenic Biagini, owner of Gone Whale Watching San Diego, stated via Instagram, “Today was far and away the most heartbreaking day I’ve ever had on the water.”

He added: “The young whale approached our boat multiple times, likely in a desperate attempt to nurse from our hull.”

Biagini’s description of the encounter is included in the video posted below. He was with his girlfriend and business partner Erica Sackrison, who stated in a separate post:

“The silent screams are deafening. A newborn gray whale without its mother. We waited, hoping to spot another whale nearby, but none ever appeared.”

Their posts provide more details and share their feelings of helplessness. But it’s worth noting, for context, that gray whales are presently migrating from Alaska to nursing areas off Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula.

Whale births often occur during the southbound migration, but it’s rare to encounter a baby whale without its momma. Sadly, newborn gray whales cannot feed or defend themselves if they become separated from their mothers.

As Sackrison stated, “Sometimes nature can really break your heart.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEvtuiuyugx/

Stirring footage shows whale trying to free itself from fishing gear

A series of breaches off Newport Beach shows rope winding through whale’s mouth and tightly around its pectoral fin.

On December 12 we featured images showing an entangled humpback whale revealing the extent of its troubles with a spectacular series of breaches off Newport Beach, Ca.

On Wednesday the photographer, Mark Girardeau, published the accompanying footage. It shows the whale trying desperately to free itself from rope that wound through its mouth and tightly around its right pectoral fin, threatening to amputate the appendage.

Girardeau began his description: “The impact of humans on this planet is all too apparent, most of it goes unnoticed or we simply turn our backs to it. We eat from the ocean while destroying the animals in it, this is just one of so many instances just here in Southern California.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDvg0uyy4VR/

Rescue teams were hoping for a chance to free the whale, but a safe opportunity did not present itself and the whale is now presumably still entangled while migrating to Mexico for the winter.

However, as Girardeau pointed out, there are no crab or lobster traps attached to the rope, so the whale is not dragging dead weight and there’s a chance the rope can be worked free.

The whale is known to science, cataloged by Happy Whale as HW-MN0503323. It has been documented five times since 2023 between Morro Bay and San Diego.

Humpback whale’s spectacular breach is sadly revealing; photos

It was not known until the whale started jumping that it was seriously entangled. Rescue teams are hoping for another sighting.

A humpback whale that had been thrilling boaters off Newport Beach, Ca.,  for several days breached for a prolonged period Sunday, revealing that the mammal is hardly free and thriving.

The accompanying Instagram post by Mark Girardeau highlights  “the tragedy of yet another human-created problem” in the form of a commercial fishing rope running through the whale’s mouth and wound tightly around its right pectoral fin.

“We’re hoping the best for this whale!” Girardeau, who was with Newport Coastal Adventure, stated in his description. “Rescue teams are on the lookout for this whale to be sighted again.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDYloHTplyT/

Even if a NOAA-trained rescue team locates the juvenile whale, approaching for an attempt to cut or loosen the rope would be challenging and dangerous – perhaps impossible if the whale is breaching or actively feeding.

Alisa Schulman-Janiger, a researcher, stated via Facebook that the whale was probably trying to free itself when it breached repeatedly for 2.5 hours on Sunday.

Closeup reveals rope around humpback whale’s pectoral fin. Photo: ©Mark Girardeau

She added that the whale could lose its pectoral fin because the rope is wound so tightly.

It’s unclear when or where the whale became entangled, but ropes attached to crab and lobster gear always pose threats to whales.

Aerial shot shows rope caught in humpback whale’s mouth. Photo: ©Mark Girardeau

Girardeau was among photographers capturing footage of the whale on Sunday and allowed the use of his images for this post.

While trained rescuers would love to free the whale, they might not get an opportunity because humpback whales presently off Southern California are migrating to Mexico for the winter.

Humpback whale raises entangled pectoral fin. Photo: ©Mark Girardeau

The whale is known to science, cataloged by Happy Whale as HW-MN0503323, and has been documented five times since 2023 between Morro Bay and San Diego.

How many endangered right whales can you spot in this image?

Experts in Georgia explain why North Atlantic right whales are so difficult to spot, and why boaters should exercise caution.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources on Monday asked social-media followers: “Where’s the whale?”

The quiz is part of an effort to explain why critically endangered North Atlantic right whales are difficult to spot and why boaters should exercise extreme caution with the mammals present for the winter calving season.

But there are actually three adult female right whales in the image shared by the Georgia DNR (and posted above and immediately below). Can you spot all three whales? (Answer at the bottom of this post.)

Can you spot the right whales in this image? Photo: Georgia Department of Natural Resources

The Georgia DNR explained the visibility issue in a news release and via its blog: “Although they can be as big as a school bus, North Atlantic right whales do not have a dorsal fin and their profile is usually low in the water.

“In the Southeast, which is where pregnant females migrate to from New England and Canadian waters each winter to give birth, they also spend much of their time at or just below the surface.

“This is especially true for mothers and calves, because calves are unable to dive for long and their moms keep them close during this vulnerable time for the young.”

Vessel strikes are a leading cause of death for North Atlantic right whales. And because there are only about 370 whales left, including a mere 70 breeding-age females, every life counts.

Interestingly, the waters off Georgia, the Carolinas, and northern Florida are the species’ only known calving grounds.

As for the quiz, the three whales are circled in the image posted below.

Hard-to-spot right whales are circled. Photo: Georgia Department of Natural Resources

The Georgia DNR explained that the image was captured by a research crew with a permit to be within 100 yards of the mammals.

The DNR stated: “The photo illustrates what a challenge it can be to spot these whales on the open water. But being vigilant and going slow can provide boaters time to react.

“Collisions have not only killed and injured right whales, they have caused extreme damage to vessels and put people at risk.”

The calving season runs from November through April. Boaters are urged to follow guidelines for Navigating in Right Whale Waters.

Watch: Orca performs ‘headstand’ during rare San Diego sighting

The Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales, more commonly spotted off Mexico, are famously boat friendly.

When Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales visit San Diego waters via Mexico, it’s always exciting for observers.

For starters, the ETPs visit primarily to hunt common dolphins. These predation events, while deadly for dolphins, are acrobatic spectacles that showcase the orcas’ skills as cunning, top-level predators.

But also, ETP orcas are famously boat friendly and seemingly curious about their human admirers.

The accompanying footage, captured Dec. 4 by Capt. Erica Sackrison and deckhand Jess Aubry of Gone Whale Watching San Diego, shows an orca thrilling passengers by performing a “headstand” just feet beyond the vessel’s bow.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDOP0o5JH7v/

“He’s upside down!” one passenger exclaims in the footage, moments before the mammal raises its tail section above water.

Gone Whale Watching San Diego via Instagram:

“Christmas came early for the Gone Whale Watching family yesterday when a few members of the same pod of ETP Killer Whales made yet another memorable visit to San Diego!

“The notoriously boat-friendly orcas constantly interacted with our boats, making it clear they wanted ATTENTION! Us meager whale watchers were only too willing to oblige!”

ETP killer whale sightings off Southern California are rare, but this time of year is when most sightings occur.

Gone Whale Watching San Diego has logged three sightings involving members of the same orca pod over the past three weeks, and is hopeful for more encounters:

“While it is utterly impossible to predict when we’ll see them again, a string of recent sightings can only be taken as a positive omen!”

Stranded fin whale becomes ‘icy monument’ outside Anchorage

The frozen carcass of the 47-foot fin whale has become a major attraction since the mammal washed ashore last weekend.

A 47-foot fin whale that washed ashore near downtown Anchorage last weekend has become what one naturalist described as an ‘icy monument.”

Emma Luck, an Alaska-based researcher and naturalist, shared several images of the frozen whale carcass via Instagram on Saturday, along with the description:

“Whale strandings are not unusual in Alaska—but fin whales are rare in upper Cook Inlet, and winter strandings of any baleen whales in this region are also uncommon.

“When I heard this beautiful whale had been found, I was intrigued—how unusual! But I did not give it much thought beyond that. The tide would take her way soon.

“It did not. Instead, she froze solid. She has become an icy monument near downtown Anchorage, and the city residents have made the trek out to the frozen mud flats to view her, myself included.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCufguVSibU/?img_index=3

On Friday, the Anchorage Daily News reported that scientists did not know how the young female whale died, but skin samples and organs have been collected.

It was unclear how long the carcass will remain on the tidal flats, within view of downtown.

“In the meantime, the carcass has become a local attraction, drawing hundreds of people a day to the frosty mudflats,” the Daily News reported. “Social media has been filled with posts about the rare, unique, moving experience of a school bus-sized creature washed up so close to town that it can be touched and photographed.”

Barbara Mahoney, a NOAA biologist, told the Daily News that, for now, no attempts will be made to move the carcass. “We’re going to leave it to nature,” she said.

Luck continued: “Some people may look at the photos of the crowds by the whale and find it unbecoming. I can understand why, though I don’t necessarily view it that way. We may live in Alaska, but very few of us will have ever seen a fin whale (or any whale at all!) up close and personal.

“Indeed, even I have not seen a stranded whale like this before! Many people brought along their young children to see the whale, answering all of their questions, explaining how whales work, and pointing out what the different body parts do. A classroom of sorts.

“I have no doubt one of these kids will likely walk away and become a biologist because of this experience.”

Seal develops whale of a problem after feeding mishap; photos

A harbor seal in the Pacific Northwest on Friday found itself in the mouth of a humpback whale and in dire need of an exit plan.

A harbor seal in the Pacific Northwest on Friday found itself in the mouth of a humpback whale and in desperate need of an exit strategy.

The image atop this post, captured by Tim Filipovic of Eagle Wings Tours, shows the moment the seal realized it needed to be elsewhere, and quickly.

A secondary image, by Brooke Casanova of Blue Kingdom Whale & Wildlife Tours, reveals a similar expression of bewilderment and fear.

Humpback whale with seal in its mouth. Photo by Brooke Casanova

Erin Gless, executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, told FTW Outdoors that its member vessels were whale watching in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, southwest of Victoria, B.C., when the lunge-feeding whale scooped up the seal.

She described it as an “incredibly rare event” but stressed that the seal was not in danger of becoming prey.

“Humpback whales eat small fish and krill, not seals,” Gless explained. “While they have very large mouths, their throats are roughly the size of a grapefruit, so they can’t swallow something as large as a seal.”

https://www.facebook.com/ThePWWA/posts/pfbid02zFdXUgFMgcMucrgJroWKMcyMtpkPM3ic5AvFTpUXgQurBapoJw2grK3r7C3yEPH3l

Humpback whales typically feed on bait fish by lunging, either vertically or horizontally, through large schools. They can take in thousands of fish in one gulp.

The female humpback whale that gulped the seal (temporarily) is scientifically cataloged as BCX1876, nicknamed Zillion.

Gless recalled how Zillion ended up with the pinniped in her mouth:

“At one point, Zillion opened her jaws and lunged toward the surface for a mouthful of fish, but got an unexpected surprise when she realized that mouthful also contained an unsuspecting harbor seal!

“The harbor seal was likely feeding on the same small fish and found itself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Zillion repeatedly opened her jaw and lowered her head into the water until the seal was able to swim away.”

In reference to the image atop this post, Gless remarked via Facebook that the seal looked “like a little kid in a wave pool.”

Rescue dog has plenty to say during rare orca encounter; video

Footage shows the 5-year-old mixed lab/retriever reacting to several Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales swimming near the boat.

A pod of rarely seen orcas was a wonderful source of excitement for a group of San Diego whale watchers last Wednesday. But perhaps the most curious and enthusiastic member of the charter was a rescue dog named Fin.

The accompanying footage, captured by Domenic Biagini of Gone Whale Watching San Diego, shows a tethered Fin gazing intently at the orcas while expressing an apparent desire to leap overboard and greet them personally.

Bigaini imagined via Instagram how Fin might recall the encounter:

“Last week I got to meet the pod of Eastern Tropical Pacific Killer Whales that everyone was talking so much about last winter. As a lifelong HUGE fan of dolphins, it was such a treat to meet the biggest dolphins in the world!”

Fin added: “I told my dad that I wasn’t thrilled being confined to the middle part of the boat by two leashes, but my dad knew that I’d be a sea-puppy without those restraints! I just wanted a sniff!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_YRHT_v6WK/

The orcas were so close that Fin began to bark, but was quickly calmed.

The 5-year-old mixed lab/retriever, found in poor condition near the U.S.-Mexico border, has developed excellent sea legs and eagerly accompanies Biagini on his charters.

Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales, most commonly encountered off Mexico, occasionally venture into Southern California waters to hunt dolphins and other marine mammals.

Gone Whale Watching San Diego encountered the ETPs last Wednesday and observed the mammals until sunset as they began to swim back toward Mexico.