Humpback Whale Trapped in the Wrong Place? Boat Harbor Gets an Unexpected Visitor

People at the southern California Ventura Harbor were in for an amazing sight when a juvenile humpback whale swam right past them. Experts believe the young whale had separated from its pod and was confused or lost. Pacific Eagle Air Cam captured drone footage of the humpback whale swimming in circles, trapped in the harbor. How did the whale get stranded in such an inconvenient and potentially dangerous place? And even more important, how did wildlife experts manage to coax the whale back to the safety of the open ocean? Let’s find out.

How Long Do Humpback Whales Stay With Their Mothers?

The whale in the video was estimated to be about 35 feet long. Although massive by human standards, wildlife experts believe that, due to its size, this was a juvenile. Adult whales can reach 60 feet in length and weigh 40 tons.

Humpback whales stay with their mothers for their first year of life. Once the whale is large enough to go on its own, it may travel alone or with a group of two or three other humpback whales. Humpback whale pods aren’t stable groups, however, but often disband even after just a few hours. Although this whale was a juvenile, it was probably at an age where it had left its mother and was perhaps traveling alone or with a small group.

Why Whales Enter Shallow Waters

The video shows the whale circling around and around as onlookers try to get closer. There are times when the whale seems agitated, hitting the dock and a boat. The whale was clearly seeking a way out of the harbor, but how did it get stuck in the first place? Wildlife experts say there are many reasons whales may end up in too shallow waters. Sometimes sick or injured whales get washed ashore with the tides. Noise pollution can confuse animals and inhibit their ability to hunt.

The whale in Ventura Harbor was young and seemingly healthy. While we don’t know why the whale was lost in the harbor, the description on the video explains that this happened during migration season, when whales travel south from the cold waters of the north down to Mexico. And, as a part of the Channel Island National Park Reserve, Ventura Harbor is right along their route.

How Did Wildlife Experts Rescue the Trapped Humpback Whale?

When a whale is stranded, it becomes critically important to guide the whale back to open waters. A tight marina with close quarters is not a safe environment for a massive marine animal. Wildlife experts had to think fast to save this juvenile.

According to the video description, “This whale, a healthy juvenile, will be coaxed out to sea with the use of an underwater Hydrophone to play other whale songs.” Although rescuers had no luck during the day, they left a device running near the harbor entrance playing whale sounds overnight. When rescuers returned to the harbor the next morning, there was no sign of the whale. It had made its way safely back to sea.

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