Whale Encounters at the End of the Continent

Chris Hill on his paddleboard approaches a humpback whale off Surf City. Photo: Steve Young

Source: North Carolina Coastal Federation http://www.nccoast.org

 

 

This lucky paddle boarder got an up close and personal look at a migrating humpback whale off the coast of North Carolina and one lucky photographer, Steve Young, was in the right place to capture this beautiful photo.

 

Most inlanders don't consider going to the beach during the winter months, and so a whale encounter may come as a surprise. But according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, humpback whales are the most common sighted large whale off our coast. From the months of December to March, they travel near the coast as they migrate down to their calving grounds in the tropics and then back again to their feeding grounds in the North Atlantic. Humpbacks are listed as endangered. Before commercial hunting was outlawed in 1966 it is believed that 95% of the population was decimated.

 

Tell your kids that these amazing creatures are found close to home. For basic information about humpback whales read this publication by N.C. WRC.

 

This Friday December 21 from 11-12, Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is having "Whale Tales" for ages 2-7 to learn more about whales off our coast.

 

 And here is some fun information about pilot whales off of Cape Hatteras.