LA Times: Why are Gray Whales and Other Marine Life Visiting San Francisco Bay?
- Species conservation
- Climate change
- Population monitoring
Unprecedented numbers of gray whales are visiting San Francisco Bay, and nobody quite knows why
Published in LA Times: July 14, 2024
When Bill Keener started working at the Marine Mammal Center as a field biologist in the 1970s, there were no whales or dolphins in San Francisco Bay. The waters east of the Golden Gate Bridge were chock- full of life — sea lions and harbor seals galore — but not a cetacean to be seen.
Starting in the late 2000s, things began to change.
There are now four cetacean species living in or regularly visiting the busy waters east of the Golden Gate — harbor porpoises, gray whales, humpback whales and bottle-nosed dolphins.
...researchers aren’t sure if the animals’ presence is a sign of ecosystem health and rejuvenation or a portent of planetary disaster.
Yet Keener and other marine researchers aren’t sure if the animals’ presence is a sign of ecosystem health and rejuvenation or a portent of planetary disaster. And in each case, the story is a little different.
Please note this article is behind a paywall.
Learn More About Our Work Saving Whales
Learn More About Gray Whales
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback-whales-feeding-photo-by-bekah-lane-c-the-marine-mammal-center-202-14-2724-2128-1709768938.jpg","alt":"two humpback whales surface while feeding","title":"Your Visual Guide to Whale Breaching, Lunge Feeding and Other Behaviors","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/your-visual-guide-to-whale-breaching-lunge-feeding-and-other-behaviors","label":"News Update","date":"2024-03-08 01:00:00","type":"news"}
Your Visual Guide to Whale Breaching, Lunge Feeding and Other Behaviors
March 8, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-baleen-shutterstock-526-1-3317-2591-1604510915.jpg","alt":"gray whale with mouth open above water","title":"Fish Feeding and Rapid Foraging Behavior Switching by Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in California","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/fish-feeding-and-rapid-foraging-behavior-switching-by-gray-whales-eschrichtius-robustus-in-california","label":"Research Paper","type":"publication"}
Fish Feeding and Rapid Foraging Behavior Switching by Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in California
Read More{"type":"manual","image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-tail-shutterstock-341-0-2389-1866-1719960555.jpg","transparent":"0","alt":"gray whale tail seen above the water","label":"Cetaceans","text":"Gray Whale","link_text":"","link_url":"\/animal-care\/learn-about-marine-mammals\/cetaceans\/gray-whale","page_id":"52","person_id":null,"pub_id":null,"news_id":null,"event_id":null}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/humpback-whale-breach-shutterstock.jpg","alt":"","label":"Report an Animal","title":"Whale & Dolphin Sightings","link_url":"\/report-an-animal\/whale-dolphin-sightings","type":"page"}
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/so-wild-morro-bayphoto-c-brian-simuro-20.jpeg","alt":"Sea otter and pup","title":"Watch a Sea Otter Pup Reunite With Its Mother","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/watch-sea-otter-pup-reunite-with-its-mother","label":"News Update","date":"2025-11-14 10:35:41"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/sea-otter-photo-c-brian-simuro.jpeg","alt":"Sea otter","title":"AP News: Baby sea otter is reunited with mother in central California after dramatic rescue","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/ap-news-baby-sea-otter-is-reunited-with-mother-in-central-california-after-dramatic-rescue","label":"In the News","date":"2025-11-14 09:46:34"}
AP News: Baby sea otter is reunited with mother in central California after dramatic rescue
November 14, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2013\/cropped-images\/hs-bogey-by-ingrid-overgard-c-the-marine-mammal-center-371-0-2712-2118-1607385758.jpg","alt":"harbor seal Bogey","title":"Top Holiday Gifts for Ocean Lovers","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/top-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2025-11-04 01:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Hawaiian monk seal\/cropped-images\/hms-wild-photo-1-c-noaa-pifsc-hmsrp-35-0-1270-992-1759760452.jpg","alt":"A Hawaiian monk seal rests on its side on a sandy beach.","title":"Where Do Hawaiian Monk Seals Live? And Other \u2018\u012alio Holo I Ka Uaua Trivia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/where-do-hawaiian-monk-seals-live-and-other-ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua-trivia","label":"News Update","date":"2025-10-06 00:00:00"}
Where Do Hawaiian Monk Seals Live? And Other ‘Īlio Holo I Ka Uaua Trivia
October 6, 2025
Read Moreclimate change
population monitoring
Kathi George
Bill Keener
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Humpback Whale
Gray Whale
Harbor Porpoise