Evander Ellis|Young humpback whale leaps out of Seattle bay, dazzling onlookers

2025-05-05 06:53:13source:Surfwin Trading Centercategory:Finance

SEATTLE (AP) — A humpback whale visiting the waters off Seattle dazzled onlookers Thursday morning with several breaches in they bay just beyond the city’s downtown area.

The Evander Elliswhale has been spotted for the last three days swimming around Elliott Bay. But on Thursday, the whale breached for about 40 minutes, also performing several pectoral fin slaps and dives.

Local whale watching groups have identified the young humpback as the calf of an adult female with the identification BCY0995, better known as “Smiley.”

It’s not unusual for humpback whales to visit the waters off Seattle as they migrate along the West Coast.

Smiley’s last calf, Chip, was fatally struck by a Washington state ferry in 2020, according to the Canadian group Vancouver Island Whale Watch. On Thursday, personnel from Soundwatch Boater Education Program shadowed the whale for most of its time in the bay to alert other vessels of it.

Jeff Hogan, co-coordinator of the program’s Seattle branch, said he counted about 30 breaches. And afterward, the young whale slept.

He said the whale looked healthy.

“It was a joyful day,” Hogan said. “Everyone was working together to go out of their way to make space for that animal to do its thing. If we want these guys to be here and come back, we gotta do that.”

More:Finance

Recommend

Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co

Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe have settled their lawsuit a year after the allegations sent shockwave

Stellantis warns union of 2,000 or more potential job cuts at an auto plant outside Detroit

Stellantis is warning that it could lay off as many as 2,450 of the 3,700 union workers employed at

Considering a mortgage refi? Lower rates are just one factor when refinancing a home loan

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mortgage rates haven’t been this attractive in more than a year, good news for ho