6 hours Ago By Andrea Klick
A minke whale that had been swimming in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor for most of the past week was found dead Sunday morning, April 6.Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are examining the whale’s body for any potential injuries or illnesses, said spokesperson Michael Milstein. They’ll also take blood and tissue samples in hopes of learning the whale’s cause of death and helping other whales in the future.
A minke whale circles Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)A minke whale circles Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)An onlooker watches as a minke whale circles Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Photo by Drew A.
Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)Boat crews try to encourage a minke whale to leave Catalina Landing by circling the harbor in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)Onlookers watch as a minke whale circles Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)A minke whale circles Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Photo by Drew A.
Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)A minke whale circles Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)Boat crews try to encourage a minke whale to leave Catalina Landing by circling the harbor in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)A minke whale circles Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Photo by Drew A.
Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)Show Caption1 of 9A minke whale circles Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)ExpandIt’s common, Milstein said, for whales to end up in basins, but usually they find their way out.
While the whale was in the harbor, officials said it didn’t show any signs of illness, injury or being in danger.Related ArticlesCommercial Dungeness crab season closing in Monterey BayResearchers investigate death of gray whale found on Bay Area beachWatch: ‘Bob the minke whale’ lost for fourth day in California harborWatch: Two whales play in ocean steps from California and a crowd on the sandWhy we should worry when whales stop singingOfficials tried removing booms to create a larger opening for the whale to leave and brought in boats to make loud noises that would encourage it to get out of the harbor. The whale left for a brief time but returned to the same basin, Milstein said.
Spectators first noticed the whale, dubbed “Bob the Minke Whale,” on March 31, near the Harbor Breeze charter boats. It later made its way to Shoreline Village and then near the Catalina Express.Minke whales are a smaller kind of whale, and officials believe there are at least 509 minke whales off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington, according to a 2023 population estimate.
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