Over the past few days a lone minke whale has been lingering around Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is keeping a close eye on the whale hoping it'll find its way back into the open sea. Officials say there are no visible wounds or injuries and believe the animal arrived when the tides were high. However, the tides are now low which can make it more difficult for the whale to swim home. There's also a large bridge with a shadow reflecting in the ocean which may be confusing the whale. Earlier crews were moving any obstacles from the harbor hoping the whale could leave. They even tried to make noise to guide the animal out, but no luck. Minke whales normally are alone or in small pods and can grow up to 35 feet long. They're also protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Officials are asking the public for space as they try to get the whale back into the open ocean.
Source: KTLA