Why are gray whales dying in San Francisco's waters? US scientists search for clues
Climate change and shifting migration patterns are bringing rare research opportunities and new mysteries.
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Notable Quotes
"They don't have the energy reserves necessary to complete the entire migration back to the Arctic, so they may be driven into the bay by hunger."
— Josephine Slaathaug , Academic
"It's sad to see a dead whale. It's sadder to see a dead whale that you may have recognised from studying that particular whale. But there's also a lot that we can learn."
— Kathi George , Academic
"This is the first time in decades where the problem seems immediate."
— Moe Flannery , Academic
"We have one of the busiest ports on the West Coast, 85 private and recreational marinas, high-speed ferries and lots and lots of vessel traffic."
— Kathi George , Academic
"That’s what happens when you stop hunting them."
— Bill Keener , Academic
"It's a new habitat that they've chosen to utilise."
— Josephine Slaathaug , Academic
"They don't have the energy reserves necessary to complete the entire migration back to the Arctic, so they may be driven into the bay by hunger."
— Josephine Slaathaug , Academic
"It's sad to see a dead whale. It's sadder to see a dead whale that you may have recognised from studying that particular whale."
— Kathi George , Academic
"That, in combination with the high rate of human-caused mortality in this area, really leads scientists to be concerned and look for ways to find solutions."
— Josephine Slaathaug , Academic
"It shows signs of concern for this population as it moves forward into the future."
— Kathi George , Academic
Key People
Field biologist at the Marine Mammal Center.
A graduate student at Sonoma State University and lead author of the study on gray whale mortality.
A researcher who assisted with Slaathaug's research and necropsies.
A co-author of the study concerning gray whale mortality in the San Francisco Bay.
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All Coverage
Climate change and shifting migration patterns are bringing rare research opportunities and new mysteries.
An article examining the deaths of gray whales in San Francisco Bay and the search for food as a contributing factor.
An article discussing the increasing presence of gray whales in San Francisco Bay and the uncertainties surrounding this phenomenon.
A report on the alarming increase in gray whale fatalities in San Francisco Bay and the concerns it raises among scientists.
Scientists are puzzled by the increasing number of gray whales entering San Francisco Bay, with at least 71 different whales observed between 2018 and 2023, some staying for over two months.
The number of gray whale deaths in San Francisco Bay reached 22 by mid-June 2025, indicating a concerning trend in the region's marine mammal population.
Scientists report the highest number of gray whale deaths in San Francisco Bay since 2000, with 21 confirmed cases.
Two additional dead gray whales were discovered in San Francisco Bay, bringing the total number of dead whales recorded in the area this year to four.
A report highlighting the concerning rise in gray whale deaths in San Francisco Bay and the potential causes.
Scientists are investigating the causes behind the increasing number of gray whale deaths in San Francisco Bay, focusing on malnutrition and vessel strikes as potential factors.
Researchers are alarmed by the rising number of gray whale fatalities in San Francisco Bay, with at least seven deaths recorded since mid-March, prompting urgent investigations into the causes.
Six gray whales have been found dead in the San Francisco Bay area within a week, prompting investigations into the cause.
Gray whales are facing starvation due to reduced food availability, leading to deaths along the Oregon Coast.
Scientists confirm an unusually high number of whale deaths in the San Francisco Bay Area, with the cause remaining unclear.
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