- Date: March 05, 2013
Gray whales migrate more than 10,000 miles roundtrip each year—one of the longest for any mammal on Earth. Each winter and spring, their spectacular migration between northern feeding grounds and southern nursery areas offers amazing opportunities for whale watchers along the west coast. Gray whales have even earned the nickname of "friendly ones," as they have an unusual tendency to approach whale watching boats and check out the occupants.
This past January, whale watchers in southern California spotted between 20 to 25 gray whales together—reportedly the largest pod ever seen off the California coast in at least thirty years. The pod of whales was part of the "tail" end of a southern migration to the warm waters of Baja California, Mexico—a winter sanctuary where they give birth to their calves.
By February, some whales are already beginning their northbound migration, back to feeding grounds near Alaska. Whale watchers may see both northbound and southbound whales this time of year. By late spring, all whales are heading north, many with their new babies.
Once they reach the cold Arctic waters, it’s time to eat. The whales feed continuously to put on enough weight for their eventual journey south and to last through the winter—as much as 2400 pounds of food a day. That trip south begins in October for some, with the majority heading down in November.
Working for whale survival
The Arctic feeding grounds of the gray whale are critical to their survival, as they must eat enough to sustain them until they return the next year.
WWF is working to ensure that the gray whale’s Arctic habitat remains protected. Disturbances such as noise from oil and gas exploration can interfere with their ability to get enough to eat. WWF and its partners have been pushing for stricter environmental standards to protect the habitat of these amazing animals.
Learn more about our work with gray whales.