Humpback Whale Spotted 60 Miles Up California River

A humpback whale was spotted in California's Sacramento River, 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Scientists are monitoring the unusual sighting.

Editorial Desk

September 19, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Alameda, California — A humpback whale has been spotted in California’s Sacramento River, 60 miles from its usual habitat in the Pacific Ocean. The unexpected sighting has drawn attention from scientists and local residents.

Denny Glover was fishing on the river when he noticed the whale surfacing. He captured video of the massive animal, which is known to researchers through a photo identification catalog. The Marine Mammal Center said the whale has been documented 15 times over the past 24 years.

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The whale entered San Francisco Bay earlier in the week and has been traveling east in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Experts are assessing the animal’s condition and trying to understand how it ended up so far from the sea. The public is being asked to keep a respectful distance and avoid interfering with the whale’s path.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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