Gray whale strandings rise along West Coast amid malnutrition concerns

The short version

• As of mid-August, 187 gray whales were discovered dead this year along the West Coast stretching from Mexico to Alaska.[Scientific American]
• The eastern North Pacific gray whale population dropped from roughly 27,000 individuals in 2016 to about 13,000 by 2025.[Scientific American]
• Examinations of stranded whales found malnutrition to be a common cause of death, followed by boat collisions.[Scientific American]
• Researchers report declining population trends driven by reproduction collapses and sea ice disruption in the Arctic.[Scientific American]

Key facts

• As of mid-August, 187 gray whales have been found dead this year along the coast from Mexico to Alaska.[Scientific American]
• The eastern North Pacific gray whale population decreased from an estimated 27,000 in 2016 to around 13,000 by 2025.[Scientific American]
• Malnutrition was identified as a common cause of mortality among stranded whales, alongside injuries from boat strikes.[Scientific American]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Gray whales are washing up dead on the West Coast. The reason is alarmingScientific American metered