Federal officials have documented 150 gray whale strandings along the West Coast this year, including 18 in Alaska, as part of an ongoing die-off that biologists expect to worsen.
The Current Scope of West Coast Whale Strandings
The recent discovery of a deceased gray whale at Anchor Point on June 29, 2026, marks one of 13 such incidents in Alaska this year, according to NOAA spokesperson Jennifer Angelo. Since that discovery, five additional gray whales have been found beached in the state. The phenomenon is not limited to Alaska; federal data tracks a total of 150 strandings stretching from Mexico northward.
“We expect this number will increase as the gray whales continue their migration north,” Angelo said. These animals travel thousands of miles annually between their calving lagoons in Baja California and their Arctic feeding grounds.
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Necropsy Findings and Nutritional Stress
On June 30, 2026, a team including NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, and the University of Alaska Anchorage conducted a necropsy on the Anchor Point whale. The procedure was supported by the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and local volunteers.
Preliminary findings revealed the whale was an adult female in thin body condition, according to Angelo. However, determining a definitive cause of death remains a complex process. Histological and diagnostic testing of samples is currently underway, a process that officials note can take several months to complete.
Advocacy Groups Call for Mitigation of Human-Induced Threats
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) has characterized the current situation as a catastrophic die-off. Rick Steiner, a board chair for PEER and an Alaska marine ecologist, stated that the evidence points toward starvation. Steiner links this trend to declining Arctic sea ice, which reduces the availability of the tiny, shrimp-like crustaceans that serve as the primary food source for gray whales.
While environmental shifts are a primary concern, advocates are pressing for policy changes to reduce secondary stressors. PEER is calling for stronger protections against:
- Ship strikes
- Oil spills
- Fishing gear entanglement
- Ocean noise and disturbance
Pro Tip: Reporting Stranded Marine Mammals
If you encounter a stranded, injured, or entangled marine mammal, do not attempt to intervene yourself. Contact the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network’s 24-hour hotline at 1-877-925-7773 to report the location and condition of the animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are so many gray whales dying?
Is this die-off limited to Alaska?
What should I do if I find a dead whale on the beach?
Report the sighting immediately to the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Officials use this data to perform necropsies and track long-term population health trends.
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