
San Francisco Chronicle: In a Dramatic Change, Whales Are Now Hanging Around the Bay
- Behavior
- Climate change
In a dramatic change, whales are now hanging around in San Francisco Bay
Published in the San Francisco Chronicle: May 14, 2022
In decades past, humpback whales almost exclusively swam past the bay and stayed offshore during their annual migration from April to October. Now, a rising number are coming closer to the coast. Some venture into San Francisco Bay during peak season, and a few even stay in nearby waters year-round.
The new behavior is attributed mostly to a boost in their population and warming ocean temperatures, and the changes have major implications for everyone from tourists to the shipping and crab industries.
Learn More About Our Work Studying Humpback Whales
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback-whale-photo-c-allison-payne-0-855-3826-1764-1625873951.jpg","alt":"humpback whale breaching in front of San Francisco","label":"Conservation","title":"Cetacean Conservation","link_url":"\/science-conservation\/conservation\/cetacean-conservation","type":"page"}

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback-by-bill-keener-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-21678-0-0-4602-3594-1625873241.jpg","alt":"","label":"Cetacean Conservation","title":"Field Research","link_url":"\/science-conservation\/conservation\/cetacean-conservation\/field-research","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\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/cropped-images\/hs-group-with-hats-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-34-0-1270-992-1750873865.jpg","alt":"Four harbor seals with small ID tags on their heads swim in a rehabilitation pool.","title":"How Our Patients are Named and Identified","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/how-our-patients-are-named-and-identified","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-06-26 02:00:00"}

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-oreo-by-josie-slaathaug-c-the-marine-mammal-center-108-0-1270-992-1750880575.jpg","alt":"Gray whale fluke above the water","title":"Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/los-angeles-times-the-numbers-of-gray-whales-migrating-along-the-california-coast-continue-to-plummet","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-25 02:00:00"}

Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet
June 25, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/harbor-seal-pup-photo-by-Ruvim-Miksanskiy-251-0-1270-992-1750880392.jpg","alt":"Harbor seal pup resting on the beach","title":"ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/abc7-san-francisco-animal-trauma-could-be-linked-to-bad-human-behavior-bay-area-marine-mammal-experts-say","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-24 02:00:00"}

ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say
June 24, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Response\/cropped-images\/mbo-crew-es-rope-rescue-photo-by-lesley-simms-c-the-marine-mammal-center-2-0-0-1270-992-1749571082.jpg","alt":"MBO crew carrying a crate up a cliff","title":"The Marine Mammal Center reports high levels of marine mammal disturbance in Central and Northern California for third year in a row","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-marine-mammal-center-reports-high-levels-of-marine-mammal-disturbance-in-central-and-northern-california-for-third-year-in-a-row","label":"Press Release","date":"2025-06-10 02:00:00"}

The Marine Mammal Center reports high levels of marine mammal disturbance in Central and Northern California for third year in a row
June 10, 2025
Read Moreclimate change
Bill Keener
Humpback Whale