Gray Whale Takes A Wrong Turn From Puget Sound And Ends Up In Seattle Area River

EVERETT - It's not something you see every day in our local rivers, a massive gray whale swimming around. It was first spotted near the Everett Marina early this morning. Everett Police spent today trying to keep it from heading up the Snohomish River.

When Kimeley Hutchinson heard about the gray whale in the river she headed down to the Everett Marina to check it out for herself. "He's been coming up like every 10 minutes. You don't see a whole lot of him just his blowhole and the back of him," said Hutchinson.

But, the 30 foot gray whale isn't where it's supposed to be. Whale expert John Calambokidis with Cascadia Research says the whale is confused, in poor health, and time is running out for it.

"I'm not very optimistic about its chances, given that it's gotten to such a poor state," said Calambokidis.

Everett Police Marine Patrol protected the whale by keeping boats a safe distance from it. Sergeant Robert Goetz says Officers didn't try moving the whale, but tried herding it south towards Puget Sound.

"We've noticed today the whale's been traveling in a circular pattern from just around the marina to about a mile north of the marina near Jetty island," said Goetz.

John Calambokidis says the mammal was looking for food and wasn't too far off course.

"More than half dozen gray whales that show up every spring that feed around Camano and Whidbey Island and more often right off the jetty in Everett," said Calambokidis.

Whale researchers say it's common for dead gray whales to wash ashore on Washington beaches in the spring. Six have been found this year, four were in Puget Sound. Gray whales have a long and grueling migration and malnourished ones can wander into the wrong place like the Snohomish River.

Kimeley Hutchinson is holding out hope the whale will somehow be able to survive its river adventure.

"It was really cool. I'm just worried he's not going to be able to get back to the sound, if he hits the river," said Hutchinson.

Everett Police say the whale is still hanging out near the Everett Marina. Marine Patrol Units will be back out in the morning to give it some space from whale watchers. If the whale can't make it back to Puget Sound it could be a matter of days until it dies and washes ashore.