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Recent findings reveal a troubling increase in the mortality rates of gray whales in San Francisco Bay, attributed primarily to deadly collisions with vessels navigating the busy shipping lanes. This alarming trend has raised urgent concerns among researchers and conservationists alike, heralding a potential crisis for these magnificent marine mammals.
Shifting Patterns: Gray Whales in San Francisco Bay
Once a rare sight in the bustling waters of San Francisco Bay, gray whales have begun to frequent the area more often in recent years. Traditionally, these magnificent creatures embark on an impressive journey from the warm lagoons of Baja California, Mexico, travelling over 10,000 miles (16,000 km) northward to the Arctic, where they feast on shrimp-like crustaceans during the summer months. However, a new study published in *Frontiers in Marine Science* highlights a stark change in this pattern, with increasing numbers of gray whales succumbing to fatal vessel strikes.
Since 2018, it has been documented that a staggering 18% of the gray whales entering the bay have died. Among the carcasses examined
