By Stefanie Donahue
A gray whale that appeared to be ill graced Blaine Harbor.
Video footage taken by boater Ron Gillies and other eye-witness accounts confirm that the lone gray whale came just feet away from the boats moored in the harbor on December 7.
Despite being a thrilling encounter for local passersby, the whale’s appearance wasn’t a good sign.
“It’s very, severely emaciated,” said Victoria Souze, principal investigator with the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network. “We have no idea why it’s in the harbor like that.”
After receiving several reports of the gray whale on Friday, staff with the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network searched for it in Drayton Harbor to no avail. Souze said there’s no easy way of tracking the gray whale and that its age, gender and potential illness are unknown.
Souze said that the public is prohibited from feeding wildlife and emphasized that any food could cause further harm to the gray whale.
Instead, if anyone comes in contact with the gray whale, they should contact the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline at 360/966-8845.
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