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\/Wild\/California sea lion\/cropped-images\/csl-release-4-5-24photo-by-chris-deimler-c-the-marine-mammal-center-138-0-1270-992-1745348188.jpg","alt":"Four young California sea lions walk on the beach toward the ocean.","title":"Achievements in Ocean Health","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/achievements-in-ocean-health","label":"News Update","date":"2025-04-23 10:20:00"}
{"image":"\/Misc\/Graphics\/cropped-images\/climate-change-graphic-giant-earth-shutterstock-1798-6-5113-3994-1680046432.jpg","alt":"An Earth Day graphic of people holding the planet, recycling, planting a tree and moving a solar panel.","title":"5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/5-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day","label":"News Update","date":"2025-04-18 11:21:08"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/cropped-images\/sea-otter-mom-pup-photo-c-brian-simuro-505-0-3387-2646-1618247266.jpg","alt":"sea otter mother and pup","title":"Meaningful Mother\u2019s Day Gifts for Ocean Lovers","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/eco-friendly-mothers-day-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2025-04-10 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/harbor-seals-shutterstock-107-0-1270-992-1744225508.jpg","alt":"A group of harbor seal pups and mothers on the beach during pupping season.","title":"Your Guide to Seeing Harbor Seal Pups in California","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/your-guide-to-seeing-harbor-seal-pups-in-california","label":"News Update","date":"2025-04-10 00:00:00"}
