
San Francisco Chronicle: Gray Whale Busts Record for Most Time Spent in San Francisco Bay
One gray whale has been swimming in the bay since February, by far the longest time scientists have ever recorded. But it’s not necessarily good news.
Published in the San Francisco Chronicle: April 21, 2023
A gray whale that has lingered in San Francisco Bay since February, in a detour from its normal northern migration, and has spent far more time in the bay than any other whale scientists have watched.
The previous record for a gray whale in the bay was 46 days. Now, with this gray, it’s 67 days.
Bekah Lane, cetacean field research specialist at The Marine Mammal Center, said gray whales “seem to be moving deeper into the bay, even close to Oakland and Alameda, and spending more time in the bay than they have in years past.”
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\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/cropped-images\/es-hoffman47927-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-124-0-1270-992-1748384535.jpg","alt":"An An elephant seal\u2019s face with long black whiskers and wide eyes emerges from the water. ","title":"Adaptations of the Deep: Seal Whiskers and Eyes","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/adaptations-of-the-deep-seal-whiskers-and-eyes","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-05-28 02:00:00"}

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Other species\/cropped-images\/two-seals-playing-shutterstock-250-0-3211-2510-1602631793.jpg","alt":"two seals playing on a beach","title":"Meaningful Father\u2019s Day Gifts for Ocean Lovers","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/eco-friendly-fathers-day-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2025-05-09 12:37:57"}

{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Veterinary care\/cropped-images\/cara-field-hs-eye-exam-by-elena-graham-c-the-marine-mammal-center-117-0-1270-992-1746828532.jpg","alt":"Dr. Cara Field performs an exam on a harbor seal pup","title":"Marketplace: Diving below the surface with an aquatic veterinarian","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/marketplace-diving-below-the-surface-with-an-aquatic-veterinarian","label":"In the News","date":"2025-05-05 02:00:00"}

Marketplace: Diving below the surface with an aquatic veterinarian
May 5, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/cropped-images\/es-duo-in-pool-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-80-0-1270-992-1746831113.jpg","alt":"two elephant seal pups in a pool","title":"But Why: What\u2019s a seal? What\u2019s a sea lion?","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/but-why-whats-a-seal-whats-a-sea-lion","label":"In the News","date":"2025-05-02 02:00:00"}
