When Californians think of whales, they generally think of the species most sighted off our coasts — gray whales.
Swimming north and south, spouting, popping their heads out of the sea and endlessly curious about humans they encounter, gray whales are awe-inspiring creatures. They also are in trouble. More than 480 have been mysteriously found dead in the eastern Pacific since 2019.
BASIC GRAY WHALE FACTS
Length: Up to 49 feet
Weight: 90,000 pounds, more than a fully loaded semitruck
Color: The gray whale was named for the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin.
Lifespan: Unknown, but estimated to be 40 to 80 years.
Speed: Generally 3-5 mph, but can swim double that speed when in danger.
Population: Roughly 19,000 (eastern Pacific gray whales)
Scientific name: Eschrichtius robustus
THREATS
Orcas: Also known as killer whales, orcas are often described as “gray whale enemy No. 1.” There are two main types of orcas — “resident” ones that feed primarily on fish and “transient” orcas that travel in packs, feeding on marine mammals. Gray whale calves are especially vulnerable.
Ship strikes: Scientists estimate that ships strike and kill scores of whales off the North American west coast each year. Over the last 15 years, global shipping traffic has tripled. Some projections forecast it could grow 1,200% more by 2050.
Food supply: In the Arctic, gray whales have historically fed on a species of amphipod — a type of crustacean — that has largely disappeared. As a result, gray whales have been forced to consume another species, and it is unknown if this new food source is as nutritious as their previous one.
Noise: Unnatural underwater sounds from boats, seismic air guns and other sources can disrupt communication among whales, and in extreme cases can cause hearing loss and depressed immune systems.
Fishing equipment: Discarded nets and traps can entangle and injure whales and make them more vulnerable to predators.
Other pollution: Whales migrating close to the west coast are exposed to surges of toxic runoff from stormwater, sewage plant failures and industrial discharges. As they feed, they also encounter litter tossed from boats and left on beaches.
Sources: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; International Whaling Commission; Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Journey North.
