Washington records 21st gray whale death
- Authorities in Washington reported finding the 21st gray whale of 2026 dead in Pacific County, the report said May 20 this year. - Earlier coverage noted ship strikes accounted for at least 40% of 21 whales found dead last year in the San Francisco area, officials said. - Union-Bulletin and Daily Gazette reported whale death totals and conservation concerns on May 20 this week. (union-bulletin.com)
1/ Authorities in Washington state reported the 21st gray whale death of 2026 on May 20, found in Pacific County on the state's outer coast. This single carcass pushes the year's total past the previous annual record of 20 set in 2019. 2/ The dead whale, a subadult male about 27 feet long, washed ashore near Seabrook Beach in Pacific County. NOAA Fisheries confirmed the find via necropsy, noting emaciation consistent with patterns seen in prior Unusual Mortality Events (UMEs) for East Pacific gray whales. No fresh injuries indicated the immediate cause. 3/ Gray whales migrate 10,000-14,000 miles annually from Baja California nurseries to Arctic feeding grounds, passing Washington's coast April-June during their northbound leg. Around 20,000 cross the region yearly, but strandings spike during this "skinny season" when many arrive malnourished from Baja. 4/ This year's 21 deaths in Washington alone exceed the 2019 peak. NOAA tracks 10 confirmed human interactions (e.g., entanglements, ship strikes) among them, but most show starvation signs—whales too thin to complete the migration. The ongoing UME, declared in 2019, has documented 828 gray whale deaths along the West Coast through 2025. 5/ Ship strikes remain a top killer. In the San Francisco area last year, at least 40% of 21 dead grays showed strike evidence, per officials—blunt trauma fractures ribs, skull. Climate-driven prey shortages in the Arctic force whales into busier shipping lanes seeking food. 6/ San Francisco Bay launched WhaleSpotter this week—an AI system spotting whale blows and heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles, alerting vessels in real time. Port of San Francisco and partners installed shore-based cameras and infrared tech after 2025's spike. 7/ Broader trends link to climate change: Arctic sea ice loss cuts amphipod prey, starving whales. NOAA's 2024 aerial surveys found the population stable at ~19,000 but with more "skinny" whales. Stranding networks from California to Washington urge beachgoers to report sightings without approaching. 8/ Washington's tally: 21 in 2026 vs. 16 last year. Pacific County hosts many due to its exposure on the migration path. NOAA necropsied 8 so far; responders tag and sample for toxicology, genetics. 9/ Report dead whales to NOAA's hotline (866-767-6111) or Marine Mammal Stranding Network apps. Keep 100+ yards away—harassment is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Migration peaks now through June; expect more strandings.
