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Humpback whales on the move

Sunday May 20, 7:30 p.m.

At approximately 2:30 p.m. today, the two humpback whales that have been swimming in the 
West Sacramento turning basin started moving down the Sacramento Channel.  The whales' 
action may have been in response to two tugs moving down the channel to assist a 
commercial vessel docking at the Agrium dock just south of the port.

Officials are moving quickly to try and take advantage of this unexpected development by 
rushing to the whales boats that will be used to help keep the animals from entering the 
sloughs and tributaries beginning at the river's delta near Rio Vista. The animals are 
being followed by various vessels from the of Coast Guard, Fish and Game and Yolo and 
Sacramento county sheriffs departments.

The whales were 14.5 miles south of the Port of Sacramento at 7:00 p.m.