Mass Gray Whale Deaths on West Coast Linked to Arctic Food Shortage
Scientists report that 187 gray whales have washed ashore dead along the West Coast this year, largely due to starvation caused by a collapsing Arctic food web.
A wave of gray whale mortalities has swept the West Coast, with 187 bodies found from Mexico up to Alaska as of mid-August. Scientists say the whales are emaciated, indicating starvation, which stems from rapid Arctic ice melt that upsets the algae-crustacean food chain essential to the whales' bottom-feeding habits. Population surveys show a decline from 27,000 individuals in 2016 to around 13,000 in 2025, alongside a steep drop in calf births.
While a few whales are shifting to alternative feeding grounds such as Puget Sound and the San Francisco Bay, these areas expose them to dangerous ship traffic, contributing to additional deaths. Ongoing research aims to confirm the link between climate-driven ecosystem changes and the whales' plight, but mitigating the core threat will require broader climate action.
Why it matters
The die-off threatens a once-recovered species and signals broader impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
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