This Fin whale has been seen a couple of times on Jeffreys Ledge this season, but it has been just under a month since our last viewing of this whale aboard the Granite State. July 9th was the last time we had this whale during one of our trips, and while it has been reported seen in other portions of the Gulf of Maine, it was a nice surprise to see this whale back on the Ledge. Who knows how long this animal will be in the area, as this whale seems to be making the rounds to many hotspot feeding grounds in the Northeast, but a great find regardless this morning.
While we always enjoy watching this whale, this animal has been through quite the experience and not a good one at that. Ladder received it's name due to a very prominent scarring pattern on its back. The scars, a result from a boat propeller, resemble rungs from a ladder.
Ladder's scar pattern (photo previously taken on June 20, 2010)While it is wonderful to see this animal swimming freely around the ocean today at one point during its life this whale encountered a boat. While only the scar remains present today, the reality that these animals are susceptible to ship-strikes at any point in time is a scary thought. These wild animals are constantly swimming through the ocean, whether migrating or searching for food, and easily pass through high-traffic areas of boaters. Shipping lanes from large vessels, recreational boaters out for a fishing trip, and even sail boats have been the reasons for scars seen on whales. Of course those whales were the lucky ones with only scars left as a reminder. Some whales won't survive such interactions.
Our other Fin whale sighting today was this afternoon when we came across this large animal. This whale immediately perked our interests as this animal appeared to have a VERY recent wound on its back. The wound, while tough to see in the photographs, was pink in color, an indication this wound has yet to begin the healing process.
From the lack of teeth scrapes present around this wound, we know it is not a result of another animal attacking this whale, which leaves only two other options left. 
This injury is most likely a result of a ship-strike or recent entanglement in fishing gear. Sadly this injury ultimately came from human interactions with the ocean world. There is a fine balance between whales and humans and today was a clear reminder.The largest animals in the world, while may be thought to be indestructible by their sheer size, are actually threatened by those that don't even live in their water world. It is so important when on the water to be watchful for whales at any moment. These animals need to breathe air and so eventually will surface to inhale oxygen from the air, just like us humans. Having the necessity to be at the surface for a good portion of their lives, whales and boats can easily have an interaction. Some whales have minor injuries and are able to swim away and heal on their own. Other whales are not as lucky as infections to the sight of impact or injuries to vital organs or bones can occur which could all lead to death.
Fishing gear is also a concern as it is not only whales that go after smaller schooling fish. Larger fish will eat the same food whales are feeding on and sometimes whales will be in the facinity of fishing gear. The lines running from the surface of the water, down to the gear itself, are major "invisible" threats to these ocean-dwelling mammals. Entanglements can also cause infections to the skin and body of a whale, loss of limbs, and even suffocation if the animal is weighed down by too much weight and not able to get to the surface to breathe air. While many adaptations to fishing gear has been established over the years to help minimize the chances of whale entanglements (Thank You Fishermen!) there are still documented cases of whales becoming entangled whether it be new wounds/scars seen on whales, or even a whale currently moving through the water with gear trailing behind (yes, this is true!) It is amazing to know these threats are a harsh reality for whales on a daily basis.
Sometimes we get so accustomed to seeing whales, and all their different behaviors, we forget these animals are not safe from everything in the world and are as fragile of a species as we are on land. There is a fine balance between whales and our own lives, a balance days like today remind us of just how intricate our actions truly can be. Getting the opportunity to see a whale in its natural environment is incredible but respecting and being vigilant of the area is just as important.
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