Humpback Whale in Seattle Amazed Residents After Spotting for Three Days Near Elliott Bay

A young humpback whale was spotted in Seattle's waters that amazed residents in the area. The whale showed amazing dives and slaps near Elliott Bay.

As winter comes near to the US, many Americans are looking forward to the upcoming Holiday and Christmas. It is not always people can see a humpback whale lurking over the waters off Seattle.

In a recent report, onlookers found an amazing humpback whale that showed dives and spots. People spotted it for about three nears near Elliott Bay.

According to NOAA Fisheries, the humpback whale is also known as Megaptera novaeangliae. They can be seen over West Coast, Southeastern US, Mid-Atlantic, New England, Alaska and Pacific Islands.

They can weigh up to 40 tons with a length of 60 feet. They can also live about 80 to 90 years. Similar to other marine animals, the humpback whales suffer from different human-made threats:

Fishing gear entanglement
Shipping or vessel collision
Shipping harassment
Climate change
Water pollution and ocean pollution

Humpback Whale in Seattle

(Photo : by LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images)
A photo of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). People were amazed after seeing a humpback whale in the Elliott Bay. The young whale was seen for about three days in the area, showing stunning dives. report noted that it was common for humpback whales to lurk over the waters in Seattle as they move around the West Coasts. Boat owners should be extra careful in navigating the waters.

Based on recent reports, the whale off Seattle's waters is known as "Smiley" or BCY0995. Whales are also under monitoring by local groups to ensure that they can live longer and protect themselves from threats.

In the report of Vancouver Island Whale Watch, the calf of Smiley was hit by a Washington ferry in 2020. The calf was born in 2017, and local groups found them with intense bonding.

As a result, the monitoring and alerting of potential whales is important to prevent vessel collisions or strikes. It can become fatal to whales, and result in serious injuries and deaths.

Humpback whales are recognizable by their black color and white pectoral fins. In the time of warmer months, the said whales consume more food to build up blubber to survive the upcoming winter.

They eat small fish and crustaceans to complete their diet and ensure the fat stores.

In addition, the report noted that it was common for humpback whales to lurk over the waters in Seattle as they move around the West Coasts. Boat owners should be extra careful in navigating the waters.

They mostly get close to the shore or beach and display stunning dives and slaps to people.

Also Read: Dugongs in Great Barrier Reef Shows Worrying Population Decline Due to Sea Grass Loss, Climate Change

More Facts About Humpback Whales

Humpback whales are no ordinary whales because they can migrate in great distances up to 5,000 miles. Mother whales protect their calf, and show intense closeness until they finally live by themselves.

In addition, climate change is considered a serious threat to the humpback whale population. It can affect the foraging behavior among whale's health and nutrition.

Meanwhile, the increasing temperatures can also affect whale migrations and conditions. They can likely become exposed to vehicle collisions.