WILLAPA RIVER — The juvenile gray whale that strayed far from his or her family and wandered miles up the Willapa River in north Pacific County is still there as of late afternoon, April 2.
Earlier Thursday it was believed the whale — which some are calling Willapa Willy — had made it back down the river to the bay; there were no sightings by residents or professionals as of 12:30 p.m. But around 3 p.m. it was seen again.
Staff with the Cascade Research Collective, recognized authorities on North Pacific whales, are closely monitoring the situation. They strongly urge people from resisting any temptation to get close to the juvenile, as the stress of human contact and noise could lead to its death…