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\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2025\/cropped-images\/d-ru28release-exam-at-ke-kai-ola111025photo-by-giancarlo-rulli-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-0-0-1270-992-1764620886.jpg","alt":"","title":"Bird Flu Vaccine Trial Offers Hope for Protecting Hawaiian Monk Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/bird-flu-vaccine-trial-may-offer-hope-for-protecting-hawaiian-monk-seals","label":"News Update","date":"2025-12-01 08:13:00"}
Bird Flu Vaccine Trial Offers Hope for Protecting Hawaiian Monk Seals
December 1, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2021\/hms-pp08-by-sheila-latta-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-18786.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal","title":"The New York Times: Inside the Bird-Flu Vaccine Trial for Monk Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-new-york-times-inside-the-bird-flu-vaccine-trial-for-monk-seals","label":"In the News","date":"2025-12-01 01:00:00"}
The New York Times: Inside the Bird-Flu Vaccine Trial for Monk Seals
December 1, 2025
Read More{"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 Moreclimate change
Bill Keener
Humpback Whale