California Whales Look Healthier, Happy

May 29, 03:01 PM

Current Headlines: Two humpback whales that have spent two weeks in a Sacramento, Calif., shipping channel appeared healthier and happy Tuesday as they swam into saltier water.

The mother and calf must navigate busy waters, including the Carquinez Strait and San Francisco Bay before reaching the ocean, the Sacramento Bee reported.

We are anticipating that there could be some wrong turns, Bernadette Fees, spokeswoman for the California Department of Fish and Game, told the Bee.

Researchers were optimistic that the return to salt water and antibiotics administered with a modified rifle on Saturday would help the humpacks, who had wounds apparently from a ship propeller, regain their health.

The crowd-drawing whales were circling the Benicia-Martinez Bridge in Sacramento Tuesday morning and appeared to be in good spirits, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer John Cilley told the newspaper.

During daylight hours, the Coast Guard patrols a 500-yard safety perimeter around the whales. The escort is dropped at night for fear the Coast Guard will hit the whales.