Gray Whale Facts

Scientific name: Eschrichtius robustus

The gray whale is one of the most well known whales not only for their predictable movements and seasonal whereabouts, but also for their reputation of being "friendly" to boats and humans, making them popular with whale watchers.

The gray whale is a baleen whale, having approximately 300 baleen plates which hang from their upper jaw. The baleen plates which are made of keratin, allow them to filter food from surrounding waters. They are unique among large whales in that they feed on the bottom in shallow coastal waters.

SEE Gray Whales on these Adventure Tours:

• Whale Watching & Turtle Research: Get up close with Baja's gray whales and green turtles (Jan-March / $1,795)
• Whales of Southern California: Spend a weekend in Southern California gathering data on gray whales (Feb-April / $795)

Facts & Tidbits

• These whales range in size from 35 to 45 feet in length and weigh between 30 and 40 tons.
• Gray whales are bottom feeders and forage in shallow coastal waters. When they surface, you can often see the "mud trail" left behind as they filter the sea water out of their mouths, leaving behind the prey which they swallow.
• These whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling over 10,000 miles round trip each year from their Arctic feeding grounds to the birthing lagoons of Baja Mexico.
• Their only predator (other than humans) is the orca, which has been documented separating mother/calf pairs during their migration.

Distribution

They are found in the North Pacific with two distinct populations, the Western North Pacific and the Eastern North Pacific. The Western population is found along the Eastern coast of Asia. The Eastern population is found along the West Coast of North America, in the waters of Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

Hot Spots:  Baja Mexico, California, Oregon, British Columbia, Alaska

Status

IUCN Status: Least concern

Population Trend: Increasing

In the United States, the Western North Pacific Gray whale population is Federally listed under the ESA (Endangered Species Act) as endangered. The Eastern North Pacific population in comparison has been increasing over the past few decades. 

Learn more about threats to whales here. 

What Is SEEtheWILD?

We're a non-profit wildlife conservation travel organization that supports local efforts to protect endangered animals. We work with quality tour operators who have passed our criteria to ensure low environmental impact. We're part of The Ocean Foundation.

For more information on gray whale facts, contact us!