Update: 6:00 p.m.

Michael Milstein of NOAA Fisheries told the Ballard News-Tribune that the gray whale seen today at the Ballard Locks was first sighted there on March 21 and has continued to be sighted in the area.

The whale was later spotted as far south as the Fauntleroy Ferry area a few days ago.

“It has been in the area for a few weeks, so it could come back. For some reason it seems to be hanging around in the shallow waters of a heavily commercial area, which is very unusual for it to do,” said Milstein.

Milstein also said that the whale is an adult but is smaller because it appears to be emaciated.

“If you look at the pictures you see that it looks pretty skinny and bony.”

In their migration from Southern California and Mexico to the Arctic, Milstein said it’s not uncommon for gray whales to stop in Puget Sound to feed on shrimp, sardines and herring. However, the whales primarily feed on the things in the sediment of the seabed by sifting through it.

As to whether the two 40-ton gray whales attacked by an orca near Whidbey Island are linked to the whale at the locks, Milstein said it’s “unlikely.”

“I don’t think they are linked. This one has been closer in for the last couple of weeks, and the other two were pretty far out there and more recently seen.”

Milstein also said that the gray whale seen in Ballard today is relatively safe from orca in the sound, at least for now.

“Orcas are probably not going to attack it since it’s so close into a populated area with lots of commercial traffic, although that would be something to see.”

Right now Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network is tracking the whale and recording sightings. Milstein hopes the whale will eventually move on.

“What we would like to see is it get some food in its belly and move up north.”

However, Milstein said he would not be surprised if the whale made its way back into the locks.

Original post:

Visitors at the Ballard Locks had an unexpected surprise today when they witnessed a small gray whale swimming in the waters there.

According to Q13 Fox News, news partner with Ballard News-Tribune, witnesses reported the whale was there around 6 a.m. this morning and left around 1:40 p.m. this afternoon.

One witness reported there was a group of people cheering on the bridge as they watched the whale.

Experts say it’s very unusual for a gray whale to be in the locks.

According to Q13 Fox News, Michael Milstein of NOAA Fisheries said the whale has been in Puget Sound waters since March 21. Since then NOAA has been monitoring the whale, and it appears to be emaciated. Milstein said that gray whales migrate north this time of year. Gray whales are known to feed on shrimp in Puget Sound while migrating from Southern California to the waters of Alaska. Whales that haven’t found enough food may act erratically. Unfortunately there is little NOAA Fisheries can do about the whale’s condition.

As of 3 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard reported they were not aware of the whale, and they had not been contacted by any marine life agencies.

This is not the only report of a gray whale sighting this week. Incidentally, on April 3 the Seattle PI reported two 40-ton gray whales were attacked by a young transient orca off the shore of Whidbey Island.

Members of the Pacific Whale Watch Association and Island Adventures witnessed the attack. The lone orca was swimming with a group of three other orca whales, one being its mother and the other two were younger offspring. Pacific Whale Watch Association members recognized the group.

Witnesses reported the gray whales rolled in defense and eventually the mother orca retrieved the rambunctious juvenile.

All whales in the attack seemed to be uninjured.