In the past week, six dead gray whales have been discovered in the San Francisco Bay area, raising concerns among officials due to an unusual number of sightings this year. Between May 21 and the present, these whales were found deceased, with one found washed ashore at Point Reyes National Seashore. Notably, on one day alone, two were located—one on Alcatraz and another at Point Bonita. Most cases did not involve necropsies; an inconclusive examination was performed on a yearling whale found at Bolinas, while results for the Wednesday find are still pending.
The reasons behind these deaths remain unclear, prompting questions about both the mortality rate and the increased sightings. Giancarlo Rulli from the Marine Mammal Center highlighted the need to explore why so many deceased whales are being found alongside an unprecedented number of live whale sightings this year, with 33 identified compared to just six in 2024.
So far, a total of 14 gray whales and one minke whale have died in the San Francisco Bay Area this year, with three confirmed deaths due to boat strikes. The number of gray whales sighted in the bay this year has significantly risen, even though some appear to be healthy while others are emaciated. Researchers continue to investigate the causes behind this spike in sightings and mortality. The gray whales are expected to remain in the bay for another week or two before resuming their long migration to Arctic feeding grounds. Historically, gray whales were widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, but they are now primarily seen in the North Pacific Ocean.
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