Overview

• A fifth dead whale, an adult female gray whale, was found at Alameda South Shore Beach and is being towed to Angel Island for a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
• The recent strandings include four gray whales and one juvenile minke whale, with one gray whale confirmed to have died from a vessel strike and the minke euthanized due to illness.
• Scientists are evaluating whether these deaths could signal a new unusual mortality event, though overall whale death numbers this year remain consistent with prior years.
• Climate change and shifting prey availability may be driving gray whales into San Francisco Bay more frequently, increasing their vulnerability to ship strikes and other risks.
• Mariners and ferry operators have been advised to exercise caution and adjust routes to reduce potential collisions with whales during their northward migration.