Ray of hope: Whales responded to fire hoses

A team of marine scientists, motivated by the response of two injured wayward whales to the spray of a fire hose, plan to use more hoses on Tuesday to herd the pair back to their habitat.

The whale experts, desperate for new tactics to lure the two humpbacks back to the Pacific Ocean, ventured into the unknown on Friday when they used fire hoses to create a curtain of underwater bubbles near the whales.

According to Petty Officer Allyson Conroy, the US Coast Guard Spokeswoman, the whales swam away when the scientists sprayed a powerful hose in their direction. However, only one boat was used on Friday and the whales were able to swim around the vessel and the hose. They, thus, plan to bring out more boats and hoses on Tuesday when they resume efforts to drive the pair back to the Pacific.

After the failure of other tactics like banging pipes, herding them with boats, playing annoying sounds such as car alarm; the scientists came up with this technique. It was based on the fact that the humpbacks blow bubbles to corral prey such as sardines and anchovies in their natural habitat. However, they had no idea how they would react to the high-pressure fire hoses squirting water into the river.

On Thursday, the whales were given a rest and observed by the experts. They are breathing normally but both whales have cuts probably caused by a boat propeller. These wounds are decaying around the edges in fresh water and the skin is blistering and sloughing. The rescuers are working on a plan to inject the whales with antibiotics to protect them from infection. Scientists are still developing the drug and will likely use a dartgun or syringe attached to a pole to administer it.

Officials are also preparing for an expected crowd of holiday boaters and whale watchers over the Memorial Day weekend. They plan to maintain a 500-yard buffer zone around the whales to keep the boats away. They asked boaters to slow down when they pass through the area where the mother and calf are swimming.

The two whales are believed to have been migrating from Mexico to Alaska and apparently took a wrong turn when they entered San Francisco Bay and traveled 90 miles (145 Km) inland up the Sacramento River. On Sunday, they turned around at the Port of Sacramento and swam back about 20 miles south, to Rio Vista and began swimming in circles.

According to experts, the whales could be exploring their temporary home. Humpbacks are intelligent animals and may be learning more about the delta in hopes of escaping.

Bernadette Fees, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Fish and Game, said officials are unsure whether there are any more radical measures that can be taken to move the giants. Anything involving netting the animals is far too risky, because the whales could become entangled and suffocate. She said the mother and calf are already under a lot of stress and that rescuers are not considering any measures that would involve physically herding the animals.