A humpback whale has been seen swimming up and down New York's Hudson River in recent days.
The U.S. Coast Guard says it has gotten dozens of calls reporting sightings from the Statue of Liberty to north of the George Washington Bridge — a distance of at least 12 miles.
Whale spotted in Hudson River for third time in less than a week https://t.co/C9xdEkwLX7
— Gotham Whale (@gothamwhale) November 21, 2016
Experts say they have seen increased numbers of mostly humpback whales in the New York area in recent years, but having one travel up the Hudson is rare. While river waters have become cleaner, experts think the whale was merely chasing some Menhaden up the river.
Scientists and others report seeing increasing numbers of whales off the New York coast, and there is now a high-tech buoy in the Atlantic tracking some species.
While the whale may be temporary, keep your eyes peeled for another New York visitor: harbor seals, which like to winter in New York Harbor.
#Harbor seals are in #NYC waters now. Photo by Andy Craig @brian4NY@APCruises@RealSaltLife@Dutchessjo3pic.twitter.com/54xCaCTSPd
— Gotham Whale (@gothamwhale) November 21, 2016