Humpback whales spotted in Columbia River (Video)

Humpback whales were spotted in the lower Columbia River, by the bridge between Astoria and Pacific County Washington.

Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Vince Patton reports that the whales were spotted just downstream of the bridge to Washington.

So, what’s bringing the whales this far upriver?

Jen Zamon, a research biologist with NOAA Fisheries, says they are looking for food. She says this year’s unusually warm ocean water is pushing the fish into the river.

“What happens at this time of the year, when there’s not a lot of rain and there’s not a lot of river flow pushing the ocean water out, the tides bring a lot of ocean water in and with that ocean water come these small fish,” she said.

Zamon says there could be as many as a couple dozen whales in the Columbia River right now.

She thinks they will likely stay in the river as long as their food supply is there or until winter, when they will head south to breed.

Agencies/Canadajournal