A large humpback whale was spotted taking a shortcut through the Cape Cod canal Thursday.
According to a Facebook post from the Wareham Department of Natural Resources, the whale was spotted swimming between Onset Island and Hog Island Channel.
“This was highly unusual for the area but anything is possible!” the department said in the post.
The department, along with a US Army Corp. of Engineers patrol boat, provided a security zone to allow the unexpected visitor space to swim. Onset Harbor Channel was closed while the whale continued its journey but reopened once the whale had moved on.
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The post noted that the whale “eventually continued on its journey down Hog Island Channel towards Buzzards Bay and has not been spotted since.”
Last week, a boater had a close encounter with a humpback whale who jumped out of the water near Gloucester.
An unexpected visitor stopped by outer Onset Harbor on Thursday! WDNR and the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers Patrol Boat Parsons provided a security zone for a humpback whale that was swimming between Onset Island and Hog Island Channel! This was highly unusual for the area but anything is always possible! Due to the close proximity of the Onset Harbor Channel, WDNR closed the area to vessel traffic. The channel is back open now as the humpback eventually continued on its journey down Hog Island Channel towards Buzzards Bay and has not been spotted since. If you are going to be transiting the area please keep a look out, operate at a safe distance from the whale and report sightings to the Coast Guard.
Posted by Wareham Department of Natural Resources on Thursday, July 18, 2019
Abbi Matheson can be reached at abbi.matheson@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AbbiMatheson