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!
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\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2022\/hmsahonuireleasephoto-1-by-megan-ely-c-noaanoaa-permit-18786.png","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal release","title":"Take Action: Proposed Federal Regulation Would Weaken Scientific Funding and Integrity","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/take-action-proposed-federal-regulation-would-weaken-scientific-funding-and-integrity","label":"News Update","date":"2026-06-30 09:24:00"}
Take Action: Proposed Federal Regulation Would Weaken Scientific Funding and Integrity
June 30, 2026
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Steller sea lions\/2025\/sslwestley43photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-1.jpg","alt":"Steller sea lion, Westley.","title":"A Steller Story: Endangered Steller Sea Lion Westley Released in Alaska","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/endangered-steller-sea-lion-westley-released-in-alaska","label":"Patient Update","date":"2026-06-18 02:00:00"}
A Steller Story: Endangered Steller Sea Lion Westley Released in Alaska
June 18, 2026
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/gray-whale-angle-by-josie-slaathaug-c-the-marine-mammal-center.jpg","alt":"A gray whale in San Francisco Bay","title":"The Wall Street Journal: Huge, Hungry Whales Are San Francisco\u2019s Latest Traffic Headache","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/wall-street-journal-huge-hungry-whales-are-san-franciscos-latest-traffic-headache","label":"In the News","date":"2026-05-19 15:32:00"}
The Wall Street Journal: Huge, Hungry Whales Are San Francisco’s Latest Traffic Headache
May 19, 2026
Read More{"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":"2026-05-15 12:37:00"}