Whale sightings may become more frequent near Vancouver shores

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Grey whales have been spending more time in the Strait of Georgia this summer than what has been typical in the past.

They are known to pop up in places every now and then, but Paul Cottrell with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans says grey whales are actually sticking around for a few days at at time. "We do have resident grey whales that do spend summers along the coast here, but once they find an area that is suitable, they are likely to stay. So we may see more of this as the grey whale population continues to be healthy, and they are searching for other areas to forage."

Foraging opportunities are drawing them in, but Cottrell says he would also like to think that environmental initiatives undertaken over the years have played a role in attracting the whales. "I know at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, there is lots of habitat restoration projects that have been going on for many years and have been very successful."

He says the grey whale seen in Squamish and English Bay this spring tied in with the herring spawn in the area.

A grey whale has most recently been spotted in places like Kits Beach, Ambleside in West Vancouver and at Sunset Beach in downtown Vancouver Wednesday morning. A grey whale has been seen in the Burrard Inlet today.