Mother Whale

This is Paul Janensch with a Treasure Coast Essay about a surprise visit by a pair of whales.  Little did I know, while eating lunch at a waterside restaurant in Sebastian on February 8^th, that a North Atlantic right whale -- that’s R-I-G-H-T --and her calf had entered Sebastian Inlet across the Indian River Lagoon.  But many others knew about it.  I found out later that about 500 people showed up at the inlet to watch the whales that day and even more the next day before the creatures left to continue north for the season.  Normally, whales stay miles out from the Treasure Coast.  Naturalists wondered why the mother, about 35 feet long, and her calf, about 20 feet, swam into the inlet.  I have a theory.  The calf wandered off -- like any kid.  The mother went after her offspring to keep him, or her, safe – like any mom.  I’m Paul Janensch.