Skip to main content

Whales in San Francisco Bay

Roughly 30 gray whales have been spotted in the Bay this season, many more than is typical. Sadly, there have also been at least 14 deaths this year, which is more than in all of 2024. 

We are investigating to help determine the cause of these deaths. By gaining insights into what is causing these tragedies, we can better understand how to help prevent them.

Learn more
gray whale fluke
Brenda Brinker Bottum

Brenda Brinker Bottum

Community Volunteer

Brenda Brinker Bottum moved to San Francisco from the East Coast in 1999 and has lived in Marin since 2014. She has been a community volunteer since leaving her position as an advertising account executive years ago in New York City. Brenda has been involved with and taken leadership positions in numerous nonprofits and school organizations over the years.

After joining the Board of Directors of The Marine Mammal Center in 2021, Brenda became so inspired by the work of the Center’s volunteers that she has joined two weekly animal care crews to take care of its patients. She also serves on the boards of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (Dallas, Texas) and the Belvedere Tiburon Library Foundation. Brenda served as the president of the Branson and Hamlin school parents associations, was a member of the Wildmind Science Learning Board (Half Moon Bay, California), founded the Maryland Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and was a docent with the Baltimore Zoo.

Brenda has two grown children, Connor and Connolly, who both live and work on the East Coast. She is a passionate supporter of animal welfare causes and enjoys traveling far and wide to spend time with the beautiful creatures.

See Full Board of Directors