Although they were reluctant to provide comment to Peace Arch News, a couple of White Rock area含羞草研究社檚 newest residents are causing quite a spectacle on the waterfront for both locals and tourists.
For the last couple of weeks, a pair of grey whales have been spotted 含羞草研究社� almost daily 含羞草研究社� feeding off the shore of White Rock含羞草研究社檚 beach.
The whales were viewed by tourists most recently on Thursday, and have been seen within 100 metres of the White Rock Pier.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada research scientist Thomas Doniol-Valcroze told PAN Thursday that it含羞草研究社檚 perfectly normal for grey whales to be close to White Rock at this time of the year.
含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e a migratory species,含羞草研究社� Doniol-Valcroze said. 含羞草研究社淭he vast majority of the population migrates from down south, in Mexico, all the way along the shore to Alaska and even to Russia.含羞草研究社�
He said the whales make frequent stops, 含羞草研究社渓ike pit stops,含羞草研究社� to find food and refuel. Grey whales have been known to feed in one location for days, or even a few weeks, before carrying on in their journey.
He said that grey whales have a diverse diet, but they含羞草研究社檙e mostly interested in crustaceans.
含羞草研究社淪ome of them feed on the bottom. The grey whales are known to search through the mud to find them,含羞草研究社� he said.
The whales near White Rock, he added, would likely be looking for 含羞草研究社渟mall, shrimp-like organisms.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淭hey found a good spot because they含羞草研究社檙e staying there. There must be a good reason.含羞草研究社�
Doniol-Valcroze said there are an estimated 27,000 grey whales off the North Pacific coast, but not all travel the distance to Alaska.
He said about 250 whales, which scientists have called the 含羞草研究社淧acific Coast feeding group,含羞草研究社� will stay in B.C. waters, west of Vancouver Island, for the duration of the summer.
Recent news articles from American publications draw attention to the number of grey whales that have washed up on Pacific Coast beaches. According to a Washington Post article, nine grey whales have washed up in California in a little less than two months.
Doniol-Valcroze, who added that a grey whale washed up on the coast of B.C. in recent weeks, said it含羞草研究社檚 too early to tell if the deaths are signs of a major mortality event.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not a concern to find dead whales from large populations. We含羞草研究社檙e going to lose some every year. What is a concern with some of those recent deaths is a lot of the whales were showing signs of being emaciated. Maybe not having enough to feed on in recent weeks or months. That could be a concern.含羞草研究社�
If you have photos of the whales that you would like to share with Peace Arch News, please send them to the email below.
aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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