Gray whale mortality rates are sharply increasing around San Francisco Bay, with 14 whale deaths recorded this year. Recent discoveries include five dead whales over a week, roaming the Bay, making it the highest number since 2021. Many deaths could be linked to boat strikes and malnutrition, but causes may remain undetermined due to decomposition. Notably, the number of gray whales spotted in the Bay has surged to 33 this year from just four previously, prompting concern about whale health and population decline, similar to trends observed in North Pacific gray whales.
Over the past week, five more dead gray whales have turned up around the Bay, bringing the recent local death toll to 14.
Local whale experts state this is the largest number of gray whale deaths in the region since 2021, when 15 were recorded.
This year, 33 individual gray whales have been spotted in San Francisco Bay, up from just four last year.
Causes of death likely remain undetermined due to advanced decomposition and complications around performing post-mortem examinations.
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