Top Tips for Great Wildlife Encounters
With so many incredible sightings being reported on Whale Track just now, we wanted to share some tips with you on how to have the best encounters, whilst keeping welfare of the animals at the forefront.
Land Based Watching:
Watching marine life from land is brilliant. We are super lucky to have so many fantastic spots to watch from. Explore the Hebridean Whale Trail and find our where your one-in-a-million moment could happen and check the Whale Track map to see what’s been spotted recently.
Boat Based Watching:
The key to watching responsibly is to let the animals control the encounter. The best sightings are always when the animals choose to spend time near you. This way you get a lucky glimpse at their natural relaxed behaviours.
For the best results, follow these 10 top tips;
Slow down as soon as you see a whale, dolphin, porpoise or basking shark, this gives you time to assess and see what they are doing, how many there are etc.
Remember not all animals are equal, some are more vulnerable to disturbance than others (young animals or those engaged in feeding or courting can be disturbed more easily).
Two’s company, three’s a crowd. Don’t approach if there are two other vessels present.
Think slow; from 300m you want to keep your speed below 6 knots and remain cautious. Approach animals from behind and at an oblique angle, this is least threatening and will give you the best views.
Keep a responsible distance (see below), pop your engine in neutral/off and use binoculars to get a great view. Move away, if you see any change in behaviour i.e. stopping/changing feeding or socialising, animals bunching.
If the animals are travelling or approach your vessel to bow ride, maintain a steady, parallel and predictable course.
Never chase animals. If they move off faster than you, they probably don’t want you around.
Be aware of where you are in relation to the animals and any land – don’t break up any groups and give them plenty of space to move away if they wish.
Be there for a good time, not a long time. Please keep your encounters short and sweet. Best practice is 15 minutes, by following this you help reduce cumulative impacts building up over the days and weeks.
Finally, depart slowly and cautiously when it is time to leave (for basking sharks, this can be a considerable distance, depending on how many are feeding and under the water).
These distances are the closest you should approach;
100 metres for whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks
200–400 metres for mothers and calves, or for animals that are clearly actively feeding or in transit (moderate to fast swimming in a single direction)
500 metres for basking sharks displaying courtship behaviour (swimming nose to tail, in a line)
For loads more helpful information, inducing species specific behaviours to look out for, as well as sensitive times and places, please see A Guide to Best Practice for Watching Marine Wildlife.
If you are hoping to take a boat trip out to see wildlife, please visit the WiSe Scheme website, to find businesses that have attended training on this and are accredited Wildlife Safe operators.