Gray whale deaths in San Francisco Bay surge to record levels amid population collapse

San Francisco Bay recorded 21 gray whale deaths in 2025, the highest annual toll on record, as the overall gray whale population has declined more than 50% since 2016. Scientists are investigating the causes of the die-off, which represents an ecological crisis for a species that migrates along the North American Pacific coast. The collapse threatens a species that was previously recovered from near extinction, raising questions about ocean health and climate impacts on marine migration routes.