SF Gate: Sightings of Multiple Dead Whales Reported Across Bay Area
- Behavior
- Species conservation
- Population monitoring
Published in SF Gate: August 11, 2024
A dead humpback whale washed up on a San Francisco beach Friday after officials received several reports of other dead whales observed floating in the water last week.
"The animal was in a moderate to advanced state of decomposition,"
“The animal was in a moderate to advanced state of decomposition,” a statement from the institution read.
Last Monday, prior to the stranding, fishers reported sightings of another dead whale floating in a shipping channel off the Farallon Islands to the Sausalito-based Marine Mammal Center, which has not yet been able to confirm its species or exact location.
On Thursday, the organization received two additional reports of dead whales, including one floating beneath the Golden Gate Bridge that necropsy manager Barbie Halaska identified as a juvenile male humpback after taking samples of its skin and blubber. It was last seen floating near Point Bonita. At first, experts weren't certain if it was a third deceased whale altogether, but later determined it was the same one seen at Fort Funston.
Learn More About Our Work Saving Whales
Learn More About Whales
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback-whales-feeding-photo-by-bekah-lane-c-the-marine-mammal-center-202-14-2724-2128-1709768938.jpg","alt":"two humpback whales surface while feeding","title":"Your Visual Guide to Whale Breaching, Lunge Feeding and Other Behaviors","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/your-visual-guide-to-whale-breaching-lunge-feeding-and-other-behaviors","label":"News Update","date":"2024-03-08 01:00:00","type":"news"}
Your Visual Guide to Whale Breaching, Lunge Feeding and Other Behaviors
March 8, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-baleen-shutterstock-526-1-3317-2591-1604510915.jpg","alt":"gray whale with mouth open above water","title":"Fish Feeding and Rapid Foraging Behavior Switching by Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in California","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/fish-feeding-and-rapid-foraging-behavior-switching-by-gray-whales-eschrichtius-robustus-in-california","label":"Research Paper","type":"publication"}
Fish Feeding and Rapid Foraging Behavior Switching by Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in California
Read More{"type":"manual","image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-tail-shutterstock-341-0-2389-1866-1719960555.jpg","transparent":"0","alt":"gray whale tail seen above the water","label":"Cetaceans","text":"Gray Whale","link_text":"","link_url":"\/animal-care\/learn-about-marine-mammals\/cetaceans\/gray-whale","page_id":"52","person_id":null,"pub_id":null,"news_id":null,"event_id":null}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/humpback-whale-breach-shutterstock.jpg","alt":"","label":"Report an Animal","title":"Whale & Dolphin Sightings","link_url":"\/report-an-animal\/whale-dolphin-sightings","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\/Sea otters\/2025\/cropped-images\/so-mooring-release-2-laurie-miller-c-the-marine-mammal-center-USFWS-permit-MA101713-1-80-0-1270-992-1757003194.jpg","alt":"A southern sea otter rests in the ocean after being released from rehabilitative care.","title":"Entangled in Ocean Trash, Sea Otter Mooring Gets a Second Chance at Life","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/entangled-in-ocean-trash-sea-otter-mooring-gets-a-second-chance-at-life","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-09-05 02:00:00"}
Entangled in Ocean Trash, Sea Otter Mooring Gets a Second Chance at Life
September 5, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2025\/cropped-images\/denali-hs-photo-by-clive-beavis-c-the-marine-mammal-center-79-0-1270-992-1756314221.jpg","alt":"2026 marine mammal center calendar cover star","title":"Pacific Harbor Seal Denali Chosen as the 2026 Calendar Cover Star","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/vote-for-your-favorite-marine-mammal-to-be-the-2026-calendar-cover-star","label":"News Update","date":"2025-08-04 02:00:00"}
Pacific Harbor Seal Denali Chosen as the 2026 Calendar Cover Star
August 4, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/stranded-gray-whale-july-2025.jpg","alt":"stranded gray whale","title":"Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/scientists-respond-to-dead-gray-whale-in-san-francisco-bay-as-species-faces-population-recovery-challenges","label":"Press Release","date":"2025-07-17 02:00:00"}
Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges
July 17, 2025
Read More{"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"}
species conservation
population monitoring
Julia O'Hern
Bill Keener
Humpback Whale
Gray Whale