Whale back in deep water, was near Everett beach park

A gray whale that turned up in shallow water Thursday morning just offshore at Harborview Park in Everett has been returned to deeper waters by the tide, but that doesn't mean all is well.

"The prognosis is still not optimistic," said National Marine Fisheries Service spokesman Brian Gorman.

The whale, which has likely been lurking around Puget Sound for the past few days, is very ill. The animal is emaciated and has a large amount of sea lice, or aquatic parasites, often indicators of poor health.

"It wouldn't be surprising if [the whale] re-beached," said Gorman. It's not uncommon for whales to come into the Sound and for there to be sightings, he said, adding that whales come to shore when injured or sick.

This whale appears to be 5 or 6 years old, Gorman said. Healthy gray whales live about 50 years.

The whale likely came to shore late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, said Gorman.

Lauren C. Williams: 206-464-3195 or lwilliams@seattletimes.com