Humpback whale spotted in river dozens of miles from ocean in Northern California

Residents of Northern California shared excitement after a humpback whale was spotted in the Sacramento River delta about 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Eyewitnesses said the whale traveled through San Francisco Bay on Tuesday and was later seen near the Rio Vista Bridge in the delta on Wednesday. Fisherman Josue Mejia Blanco described the sighting as initially confusing, saying he thought it might be a submarine. The Marine Mammal Center said the reason the whale is in these waters is unclear, whether it is simply passing through or dealing with an underlying condition. The center said it is monitoring the animal and asked the public to stay at a respectful distance and avoid changing its course, citing stress and boat traffic as concerns.