11/09/2024
Local resident Sue Pemberton posted this NextDoor update about the Humpback whale who's stuck in Pillar Point Harbor:
Hi again! Just wanted to update everyone in the latest regarding our whale friend at the harbor: It continues to swim in the same football field-sized area and appears to be foraging on the anchovies in the harbor. Unfortunately, the visibility in the harbor water is about 4 feet and humpbacks aren’t echolocators, so it’s a little more challenging to see the opening in the jetty. The water is also not very deep, so it doesn’t have anywhere to flee if it is scared, and the danger of being smacked by its front flippers or tail flukes if it gets startled, is not being taken seriously. I have noticed that when the tide is low, it hangs out closer to the exit, and I’m hoping with the lower tides later this week, it accidentally finds the exit and makes it out to the outer harbor and back to the ocean. There have been some discussions about what we would need to see from the whale to take next steps and possibly “encourage” the whale to leave. So far, we are not there yet and hazing whales is VERY stressful and extraordinarily dangerous, so I hope everyone understands that we want to give this little one an opportunity to get out. In the mean time, please continue to watch this gorgeous creature from afar, let folks know they should avoid the area on kayaks and paddle boards. This community has come together to support this whale and cheer it on, and I am so impressed and grateful. We will continue to keep an eye on it as a community and I will keep you updated on any new developments. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out but I do ask that people not spread unsubstantiated rumors or comment outside of your scope of knowledge of this situation. It really makes it harder to manage the narrative.