They may be small and elusive, but lately a large group of harbour porpoises, full of energy, have been hanging out in the mouth of the Prince Rupert harbour.

Research squad Caitlin Birdsall and Karina Dracott with the North Coast Cetacean Research Initiative took their boat out into the harbour to have a look at the uncommon sighting for themselves.

B次元官网网址淲e saw a lot of high-level activities with the porpoises. There were mothers and calves out there, which was really great to see,B次元官网网址� Dracott said. B次元官网网址淓very direction we looked, they were flying through the water. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of energy, which usually theyB次元官网网址檙e kind of slow moving.B次元官网网址�

The porpoises were moving so quickly, they had trouble capturing them on camera.

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For the past two years, the research team has been studying the animals, a special concern species, in the Prince Rupert area. They use an underwater listening device called a sea pod to listen for high frequency clicks that the harbour porpoises emit.

B次元官网网址淲e have a land-based spot that we take a high-powered scope out, and we basically count the number of harbour porpoises using that area,B次元官网网址� Birdsall added.

What makes this active group in the harbour even more unusual, Dracott said, is the vessel traffic in the area. Along the coast, itB次元官网网址檚 the second largest aggregation of harbour porpoises theyB次元官网网址檝e seen on an annual basis.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the reasons we want to understand how theyB次元官网网址檙e using that area and when theyB次元官网网址檙e using it is to be able to work with different industry groups to better protect and reduce disturbance,B次元官网网址� Birdsall said.

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Citizens are encouraged to do their part as well. They can download the free from the Ocean Wise Conservation Association to report harbour porpoises, whales, and dolphins in the area.

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