Three beluga whales have been spotted off Rhode Island's coast in Narragansett Bay, a bizarre diversion for a species generally found much farther north.
Typically, scientists believed beluga whales stuck to the arctic or more southern locations like the St. Lawrence river up in Canada. But off the coast of Rhode Island? That's unusual. "The fact that there are three whales is even more unusual," said Tracy Romano, a biologist at Mystic Aquarium.
This week her team has been out in Narragansett Bay observing the whales -- tracking their behavior and trying to make sure they're not in harms way. They're also asking the obvious question here: what are the whales -- at least two of which appear to be juveniles -- doing here?
"Well, certainly they could have gotten lost. Off track. Found themselves down here. Many populations of beluga whales actually migrate to warmer waters and estuaries during the summer months," Romano said. "These animals really seem to be curious animals. They seem to be feeding on something. When we've been watching them they've been staying in one area. "Milling about" is what we call it," she continued. "So, it's not clear what they're doing, but it seems that they're out of harm's way. They're feeding. They're being beluga whales."
Romano said biologists have gotten pictures and video of the whales. They'll send that info to scientists who have cataloged whale populations in the St. Lawrence River, and with a little bit of luck, Romano said biologists may be able to get a match. "And be able to tell us male versus female, about how old they are, what their behavior patterns have been, if it's a female, if they've had a successful calf," or if the whales are a family.
Last year, one beluga whale was found in the Taunton River in Massachusetts.
