Six gray whales died in the San Francisco The bay region in last week and the authorities are trying to determine what could cause the sudden death of blocked marine mammals.
The California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center confirmed that the whales died between May 21 and 28 and noted that their efforts to response to necropsy to determine what happened is “difficult”.
“The efforts of response to necropsia and the collection of data were difficult for a certain number of cases due to inaccessible sites which hinder complete post mortem investigations, as well as the poor quality of the fabrics from advanced decomposition and the lack of available places to tow in a more in -depth investigation”, ” The officials said.
“To date, on May 28, 2025, a necropsy (animal autopsy) was carried out in Kirby Cove in the Headlands of Marin. It is suspected that this Subadult male is one of the two whales that was seen on May 26, 2025. The cause of the death is still inquiry.
On May 28, a gray whale was found dead near the falls of Alamere. On May 26, two other gray whales were reported dead, with one near Alcatraz Island and another Bonita point in the county of sailor.
A female gray whale died on May 24 near Berkeley and another was found in Fisherman bay on the southeast island of Farallon, off the San Francisco coast on May 22.
On May 21, a one -year gray whale was found dead in Bolinas in the county of Marin.
The Navy Mammal Center added that It is the largest number of dead gray whales “Since the unusual mortality event that has caused this species to lose around 45% of their population a few years ago.”
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“Our team has documented more whales in the bay this year than any year in at least two decades. A brutal reminder that this loaded commercial environment is the one we share with our neighbors to the ocean. We are committed to continuing our work to study these animals and work with stakeholders to find solutions to protect them, ”they added.
People look at the body of a gray whale who died on the shore of Huntington Beach on April 12, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. A dead gray whale measuring about 50 feet in length washed on the shore at Huntington Beach on Friday afternoon, said the city’s maritime security division in a social position.
I Ryu / VCG via getty images
The recent whale carcasses reports bear the total number of dead whales found in the bay region in 2025 to 14.
The California Academy of Sciences confirmed that three of the 14 deaths were deemed suspicious or probable strikes of ships.
“The Center Conservation Biology Team of the Center reported an unusual number of observations in the Bay of San Francisco this year, with 33 individual gray whales confirmed by photo identification,” he said in a statement. “In comparison, only six gray whales were seen in the bay in 2024. About a third of these whales stayed in the bay for at least 20 days, and their overall body condition goes from normal to emaciated.”
They said that the reason for the massive point of observations this year is still under the study of researchers.
“We expect the gray whales to be in the bay for one to two weeks before continuing their annual migration from the North to the food grounds in the Arctic,” they added.
Officials warn boomers in the region to be “aware of the whale”.
“With the Baie de San Francisco serving as shared space for trade and an increased gray whale activity, experts from the Academy and Center note that all boaters – large commercial ships to the sailboats – are aware of the whale ” and continue to slow down,” warned officials.
“Gray whales often have a very low profile in the water that can make them difficult to see, unlike other coastal whales such as humpback whales,” continued scientists. “The center works with the San Francisco San Francisco security committee to find solutions to reduce the risk of ship strike (including the modification of ferry tracks according to observation data this year) and increase the communication announcements of sailors of an increased whale activity via the American Coast Guard.”
People are invited to report dead, injured or blocked marine mammals in the San Francisco Bay region by calling the California Academy of Sciences For dead animals or Marine mammals center For living animals. They also ask the public to point out the observations of the whales Whale alert application Or on the Marine Mammal Center website.
Gray whales are also washing on the ground in British Columbia this month, with a second dead gray whale reported on May 11 In Haida Gwaii, near the Skidegate community.
The cause of death is unknown, and the fisheries and the Canada oceans say that confirmation of what has happened by autopsy reports can take up to three months.
The last case comes after Parks Canada declared a dead whale was spotted floating off the island of Vancouver on May 6Before it washed on the ground in Long Beach in the Rim Pacific National Park reserve near Tofino.
Parks Canada says that a deceased gray whale, seen on this document photo, washed on the ground in Long Beach near Tofino, British Columbia
SDVTHE Canadian Press / Ho-Parks Canada
The Federal Department has warned people not to touch the dead whales and keeping dogs on a leash, and also asks anyone who sees harassed or disturbed whales to immediately appear to the agency.
–With Canadian press files
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