Rescuers Growing Desperate to Save Injured Humpback Whales

Wildlife experts are worried about the long-term health of the animals.

The Coast Guard Cutter Pike assists in the effort to move two Humpback Whales from the Port of Sacramento, approximately 90 miles inland, to open waters in the Pacific Ocean. Photo: Eric Hebert, USCGAUX

(SACRAMENTO, Calif. ) - Biologists on Friday are once again relying on whale sounds in an attempt to lure two injured humpback whales out of the deep water shipping channel in West Sacramento and back to the ocean.

The whales entered the canal leading out of the Port of Sacramento and swam about 200 yards but then returned to the turning basin.

A team including the Sausilito-based Marine Mammal Center, Coast Guard and representatives from other agencies made a similar effort on Thursday but had no luck.

The wayward whales are in the waters of the Port of Sacramento after making their way about 90 miles through San Francisco Bay and up the Sacramento River.

The animals have drawn thousands of curious whale watchers.

Wildlife experts are worried about the long-term health of the animals. Both whales appear to have injuries, perhaps caused by a ship’s propeller.

Officials say they will stick with their plan to play whale sounds using an underwater microphone attached to a Coast Guard boat. They said they hope the sounds will draw the whales -- believed to be a mother and a calf -- back out to sea.

If the sounds do not work, a second plan calls for using a flotilla of boats to herd the animals downstream.

Scientists say another reason the whales are not responding may be because the sounds being used were made by a humpback whale in Alaskan waters.

The Coast Guard is reminding all boaters there is a 100-yard safety zone around each whale.