Gray whale deaths mount on Washington shores with 23 found since March

Gray whales are dying along Washington’s coast at an alarming rate.

Twenty-three have been found dead on state shores since March, with most showing signs of malnutrition, according to the Cascadia Research Collective.

The Pacific Whale Watch Association told MyNorthwest the lack of food is tied to global warming and noted the issue is widespread and extends far beyond local waters.

Changes in the food supply on the whales’ Arctic feeding grounds are leading to a lack of food, Cascadia Research Collective explained to MyNorthwest. Several whales also suffered blunt force trauma, most likely from a ship or boat.

Cascadia Research Collective posted about two whales that washed ashore in Ocean Shores on April 3. It said the whales, one male and one female, were both malnourished. The male also had significant trauma to the head, which appeared to be a ship strike. Researchers noted the female was not lactating and would not have been nursing a calf.

“Gray whales are generally solitary and do not travel in family groups; the timing and proximity of these strandings are considered to be most likely the result of general migration patterns, tides, and currents,” the organization stated.

What can be done to help gray whales

Those whales were only two of the 23 whales that have washed up locally. The latest was on Sunday in Olympic National Park, where researchers have yet to determine the cause of death.

Cascadia Research Collective said the public can help by protecting alternate feeding areas the whales rely on, like the ghost shrimp beds in North Puget Sound, and by supporting efforts to reduce entanglements and ship strikes. The organization also encouraged people to talk to friends, family, and elected representatives about the importance of the U.S. returning to a leadership role in combating climate change.

Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.