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Whales in San Francisco Bay

Roughly 30 gray whales have been spotted in the Bay this season, many more than is typical. Sadly, there have also been at least 14 deaths this year, which is more than in all of 2024. 

We are investigating to help determine the cause of these deaths. By gaining insights into what is causing these tragedies, we can better understand how to help prevent them.

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gray whale in the San Francisco Bay with Alcatraz and Golden Gate in background
In the News

CBS News: Scientists Work to Identify San Francisco Bay's Enigmatic Gray Whales

July 1, 2024
  • Behavior
  • Species conservation
  • Population monitoring

Published in CBS News: July 1, 2024

In recent years, the number of whales swimming in San Francisco Bay has increased dramatically, often with tragic results. 

 Why it's happening is still a bit of a mystery, but the painstaking work of one young researcher is helping identify the wayward whales in order to get a better understanding of their behavior.

When Josie Slaathaug chose her Master's research project, she could have selected an easier subject to observe than the gray whale.

"The way that they surface, they really love to just give you a sliver of their body--just the top, never the tail."

"Yeah, I like to make it hard on myself, you know? Add some challenge in there," she said, laughing. "The way that they surface, they really love to just give you a sliver of their body--just the top, never the tail."

Read the story 

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behavior
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