The Whale Trail, a network of shore based marine mammal viewing sites along the Pacific Northwest, has added a site in Prince Rupert.
The city’s public dock has already proven it is a prime real estate for whale watching after a pod of killer whales were seen 30 feet from it last Tuesday, April 12.
The marina manager, Marty Bowles, and Caitlin Birdsall, the coordinator of North Coast Cetacean Research Initiative for the Vancouver Aquarium, worked together to add the public dock to the Whale Trail.
Birdsall is looking into installing a sign on the dock to help the public identify the types of species in the area and how to report sightings to contribute to research on marine mammals. The sign should be up in the summer.
It’s possible to view harbour seals, harbour porpoises, Dall’s porpoise, Steller sea lions, humpback whales and transient killer whales from Prince Rupert.
“In addition to following responsible wildlife viewing guidelines on the water, land based whale watching offers an accessible, safe, and disturbance and noise-free way to view these incredible animals,” Birdsall said in a press release. “The dock is a perfect example of this. So many people got to see whales from right there,” she stated.
“It’s a great spot.”