It was an experience Melissa Foley and Megan Cleal won’t soon forget.

The couple took their kayaks onto the waters of Trinity Bay on the Father’s Day weekend and captured on video a close encounter with a curious baby beluga.

Foley admits to a bit of nerves when she first saw the animal but says it soon put her at ease.

The beluga, which appeared to be a juvenile, came right over to their kayaks and popped his head out of the water to look them in the eye.

DFO whale researcher Dr. Jack Lawson says stray solitary animals sometimes end up in Newfoundland waters. He says sometimes young belugas get separated from their pod and end up near wharves looking for attention.

That can be a problem for the whales says Melissa Abbott, the Regional Chief of Policy and Regulation with DFO. She says their curious nature leaves them prone to injury, including strikes from boat propellers, which can kill them. She says DFO discourages any interaction with belugas for the safety of the animal.