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A stuck and ‘skittish’ minke whale is still swimming in Long Beach Harbor
The minke whale has been swimming around Long Beach Harbor for several days.
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KCAL-TV Channel 9
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A minke whale has been swimming around the Long Beach Harbor for most of the week, despite marine officials' attempts to shepherd it back out to sea.
It’s not unusual for whales to wander into bays or harbors looking for food or a place to rest, according to Michael Milstein, public affairs officer with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.
The animals typically find their own way out, but this whale has been a bit stubborn.
Officials were able to encourage it to leave the bay earlier this week, but it still hasn’t made it all the way out of the harbor.
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Milstein told LAist that a bridge between the open sea may be to blame.
“It seems to be kind of skittish about going under the bridge,” he said. “We’re kind of hoping at night, when things are calmer and it's not seeing those shadows, that maybe it will find its way out.”
What we know
The whale is believed to have been there since early this week, and it has no obvious signs of injury or illness.
Officials have attempted to coax it out of the harbor around the Catalina Landing dock, which Milstein noted is a fairly small area for the animal, including on Thursday and Friday.
You might have seen our visiting whale friend on the local news in recent days! Come on down to the Long Beach waterfront to see if you can spot the minke whale that has been feeding in the harbor. pic.twitter.com/ehwsC2ebaY
— Visit Long Beach (@VisitLB) April 4, 2025
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They moved boats around and adjusted the opening to make it wider, but the whale still isn’t venturing beyond the bridge.
“It's a bit of a puzzle, but hopefully, this one can figure it out if given a little time,” he said.
The plan is to stand down over the weekend and give the whale another few days to find its way out. But that could change if it starts showing any behavioral or health concerns.
How to help in similar situations
You can help be NOAA’s eyes and ears by reporting marine mammals that are sick, stranded or otherwise need assistance by calling (866)-767-6114.
The West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline is open 24/7.
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