Gray whales migrate north each spring to feast and grow fat in the rich feeding waters of the Arctic. They migrate south each fall to mate and give birth in lagoons on Mexico's Baja Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California Peninsula is a peninsula in Northwestern Mexico. It separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The peninsula extends 1,247 km from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south. It ranges from 40 km at its narrowest t…
How do humans affect the gray whales migration?
Human Impact. Humpback whales face many human hazards during their yearly cycle: Migrating or sleeping whales are hit by ships; they get entangled in fishing gear; and the water they live is polluted. Humpbacks store the pollutants in their blubber. The biopsy samples taken by researchers contained a small amount of blubber that biologists used ...
Why are gray whales becoming extinct?
Conservation Actions
- Whaling Moratorium. The moratorium on commercial whaling approved by the IWC in 1982 went into full effect in 1986, and is just beginning to have an effect on whales, most ...
- Protected Areas. A recent development and cause for hope is the newly created whale sanctuary in the Antarctic. ...
- Directing Vessel Traffic. Programs to help minimize conflicts and collisions between whales and ships, such as the spotter planes described earlier, are helping to protect whales.
Are humans dangerous to gray whales?
Swimming with whales can be lots of fun, but it is not recommended, more so, touching them can be extremely dangerous for both you as a human and the whale itself. Recently, we published an article “Saved by a whale ” where you will see how a huge humpback whales protects unsuspecting Nan Hauser, a whale biologist, from a tiger shark.
What is the lifespan of a gray whale?
Grey whales may reach puberty around 6-12 years, and continue growing up to about 40 years. The lifespan is unknown, but whaling data suggest they may live well over 80 years. The primary predators of grey whales are transient killer whales, which may attack grey whale calves and yearlings along their migration route.
Why do whales migrate?
The simplest explanation for whale migration is diet and whale breeding. During the warm months of the year whales migrate to cold waters where the food is, then, when the weather becomes colder and the food scarce, whales will migrate to warmer water for mating and breeding.
How often do gray whales migrate?
every yearGray whales have the longest known migration of any mammal. They travel 10,000-12,000 miles round trip every year between their winter calving lagoons in the warm waters of Mexico and their summer feeding grounds in the cold Arctic seas.
Why do the GREY whales have to leave the Arctic Ocean in winter?
As warmer waters melt the sea ice, other animals move into the whales' feeding grounds. Crowded by the new competition for food, gray whales then must travel further north and feed longer to get filled up and gain blubber.
Where do gray whales migrate in the summer?
Gray whales begin to leave their Arctic feeding grounds in September, migrating south along the coastline to breed and calve in Baja California, Mexico.
Why do gray whales stay close to shore?
Healthy whales choose to move close to the shore where water is clearer with less pollution. The water near the shore is more oxygenated than in the deep waters of the ocean. Whales prefer to stay where there is more oxygen in the water.
Why would gray whales once migrate freely between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans?
Whales need to surface every few minutes to breathe and cannot venture under frozen seas. But increasingly warmer summer temperatures are melting the ice of the Bering Strait and Northwest Passage, opening a water highway between the Pacific and the Atlantic.
Do whales migrate between oceans?
California's gray whales give birth each winter in the lagoons of the Baja Peninsula. Then they migrate up the west coast to the Arctic for the summer. They power these tremendous migrations–the longest of any mammal–by ramming their mouths into the sea floor and filtering out tiny crustaceans from the sediment.
What would happen if GREY whales went extinct?
Bacteria gigantic scavengers and other aquatic blobs eat that meat. So-called “bone-eating zombies” feast on the skeleton. A dead whale can provide a 10-year supply of seafood and as Science Mag points out whales also contribute to the spread of nutrients on land. If they die out the circle of life might die too.
What is unique about gray whales?
The gray whale differs from the other two baleen whale families primarily in its feeding behavior, it is a bottom feeder. Gray whales earned the nickname "devil fish" because of their aggressive reactions when harpooned. Gray whales are predominantly bottom feeders and forage along the ocean floor.
Why do gray whales migrate each year from Alaska to Baja California Mexico?
Gray whales migrate north each spring to feast and grow fat in the rich feeding waters of the Arctic. They migrate south each fall to mate and give birth in lagoons on Mexico's Baja Peninsula. They do this every year of their long lives.
How long does it take for a gray whale to migrate?
two to three monthEach October as the northern ice pushes southward small groups of gray whales start a two to three month 5,000 – 6,800-mile trip south.
What season do whales migrate?
All along the coast, gray whales can be seen from November to April as they make their way southward, with peak migration usually occurring around January. They head north again in spring, but are generally too far out to sea to spot from land, making winter the best time to catch a glimpse from shore.
Do gray whales migrate?
Gray whales make one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal, traveling about 10,000 miles round-trip and in some cases upwards of 14,000 miles.
What time are gray whales most active?
Resident gray whales are most commonly seen from June through mid-November. The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay, Ore., sees up to 15 whales per day during peak seasons.
How many GREY whales left 2022?
Gray Whale Strandings (as of June 3, 2022)Country20192022Canada110U.S.12223Mexico8353Total21676Jun 3, 2022
Are GREY whales migrating right now?
Gray whales are migrating along California's coast right now. Here's where to see them. A baby gray whale swims with its mother off Dana Point. The gray whales are back, hugging the California coast while they make their 10,000-mile journey from Alaska to breed in the warm-water lagoons of Baja, Mexico, and back.
What do grey whales do?
Diving to the muddy bottom, grey whales scoop up sediment from the ocean floor, filtering out water and mud and trapping plankton and krill. In the 1700 and 1800’s, whalers in search of oil, meat, and baleen hunted gray whales to near extinction.
What is a gray whale's body?
Gray whales have a narrow, tapered head, and a streamlined body. They surface only for a quick spout and breath before disappearing back into the ocean. Instead of teeth, gray whales have baleen, which is like a thick comb made up of long, fine hairs.
When did the whales become endangered?
In 1946 an international treaty was signed to provide oversight and management of whale hunting. But it was under the protection of the Endangered Species Act in 1974, and NOAA’s careful management since, that the eastern Pacific gray whale recovered to a sustainable population.
What is the name of the whale that lays on Kodiak Island?
But even against this monumental landscape, all eyes are on the horizon for one of nature’s most graceful giants: the gray whale.
How far do gray whales migrate?
Gray Whale Migration: A Guide to Sightings by Seasons. Every year, gray whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling 12,000 miles round-trip from their feeding grounds in the Arctic to calve and breed in the Baja lagoons, and then back again. That is about the same as traveling across the United States from San Francisco, ...
Where do gray whales live?
Gray whales feed on small animals (usually amphipods) that live in the seafloor sediment. Like people, gray whales show left and right side preference! While eating, gray whales move along the seafloor on their side, using their baleen to sift their food from the sediment. Side preference can be determined by looking at the whale’s head—the side with fewer barnacles and some evidence of scraping on the skin is their preferred side.
What is the color of a gray whale?
Gray whales are true to their name, and are dark gray in color with blotchy white patches. The white patches are variations in pigmentation, scars and even barnacles and whale lice. The latter two can contribute up to 400 pounds to the whale’s weight! A gray whale breaches near Half Moon Bay, CA. © Rhys Watkin.
Why do whales leave the lagoon?
Female whales with newborn calves are the last to depart to the lagoons in order to give the calves as much time as possible to grow. These mother-calf pairs tend to stay close to the coast throughout their migration, and will be looking to avoid predators, especially killer whales and great white sharks.
How many gray whales are there in the Pacific?
Thanks to a moratorium on whaling and other multinational protections, the eastern Pacific population of gray whales is thriving with around 26,000 individuals, and a Red List status of Least Concern. Gray whales are charismatic marine mammals that can reach 40-50 feet in length and weigh more than 36 tons (72,000 pounds) when fully grown.
How to identify gray whales?
Beyond their coloration, there are a few distinguishing characteristics that can help you identify gray whales along the California coast. Blow or spout : Like other baleen whales, gray whales have two blowholes.
What animals can you see on a whale watching trip?
Led by Oceanic Society’s local wildlife experts, our whale watching trips provide opportunities to see blue, humpback, and gray whales, dolphins and porpoises, seals and sea lions, rare seabirds, and other marine life up close.
Why do whales migrate?
In order to simplify there reasons here is a short list of 4 common reasons why whales migrate. They migrate for mating and feeding purposes. They migrate primarily to maintain their food supply. They are wanderers and travel the world without any notable migration pattern.
Why is it important to understand the migration patterns of whales?
When it comes to understanding the migration patterns of whales and figuring out why different species migrate in different ways it is important to understand what the purpose for their migration is because not all whales migrate for the same reasons. Some whale will migrate in order to get to their local feeding ...
Why do marine mammals migrate?
Marine mammals that migrate for these purposes will travel wherever their prey migrates to so that they can continue feeding without having to worry about finding new prey. While there are whales that follow fairly predictive migration patterns there are also some whales do not follow a normal migration pattern.
How many different types of whales follow different migration patterns?
Here is an example of 4 different species of whale that follow different migration patterns.
Where do killer whales live?
killer whale typically prefer living in cold water although they can be found swimming in all of the large oceans of the world from the Arctic and Antarctic to the tropical regions near the center of the equator.
Do whales have a gestation period?
Although not always the case a whales gestation period (length of pregnancy) may have an impact on when, where and if these marine mammals migrate to new locations during certain times of the year.
Do male sperm whales migrate?
While these whales do migrate towards warmer tropical climates during mating periods male whales don’t follow a particular route or have any notable migration pattern s.
