3 Types of Whales in Michigan
3 types of whales from whales, dolphins and porpoises (infraorder Cetacea) have a verified observation record in Michigan. The most frequently recorded are White-tailed Deer, Moose and Elk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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3 types of whales from whales, dolphins and porpoises (infraorder Cetacea) have a verified observation record in Michigan. The most frequently recorded are White-tailed Deer, Moose and Elk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Verified species, source iNaturalist
3 types of whales recorded in Michigan
3 whales species have a verified observation record in Michigan across whales, dolphins and porpoises (infraorder Cetacea), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White-tailed Deer | Odocoileus virginianus | 12,014 |
| 2 | Moose | Alces alces | 516 |
| 3 | Elk | Cervus canadensis | 86 |
Plus 3 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
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Top Michigan Whale Gifts
The White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most commonly recorded, with 12,014 verified observations — about 95% of all whales reported in Michigan. If you spot a whale here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.