Stay Eat Events Weather Beaches

Sick and Slowly-Dying Whale Spotted Near Depoe Bay, Moving N. Along Oregon Coast

Published 07/26/23 at 6:41 a.m.
B
y Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Depoe Bay, Oregon) – Something sad but simply natural is brewing off the central Oregon coast right now as boatcrews in the Depoe Bay area have spotted a gray whale slowly dying. There is nothing humans can do to help it, and it is just part of the circle of life, say experts. It also may be part of an unhappy trend with whales that has been happening for the last decade or so.

Latest Coastal Lodging News Alerts
In Seaside:
Includes exclusive listings; some specials in winter
In Cannon Beach:
Includes rentals not listed anywhere else
In Manzanita, Wheeler, Rockaway Beach:
Some specials for winter
In Pacific City, Oceanside:
Some specials for winter
In Lincoln City:
Some specials for winter
In Depoe Bay, Gleneden Beach:
Some specials for winter
In Newport:
Look for some specials
In Waldport
Some specials for winter
In Yachats, Florence
Some specials for winter
Southern Oregon Coast Hotels / Lodgings
Reedsport to Brookings, places to stay; winter deals

Whale Research Eco Excursions out of Depoe Bay was the first to post something about it on social. Owner / scientist Carrie Newell said she first got word about July 22, when another boat captain asked her to check out a whale in the area that looked unusual.

“I checked it out and it was extremely underweight with its sides caved in and a depression behind its blowhole. Also, this whale was not diving under like normal,” she said.

It likely only has two weeks to a month or so left to live.

Newell is an established whale scientist as well as owner of the tour and the Whale, Sealife and Shark Museum in Depoe Bay. She personally ID'd and documented many whales that are regulars to this part of the Oregon coast.

She said that recently she published a paper on anorexic whales and found this gray whale fit the criteria.

Leigh Torres, a researcher with OSU, has published numerous findings on undernourished gray whales along the Oregon coast – essentially skinny whales. She echoed Newell.

“Likely malnutrition. It's a hard life for whales to find enough food and cope with all the elements,” Torres said.

Torres told Oregon Coast Beach Connection she and her colleagues had seen another such malnourished and dying whale earlier this year.

Few others have even heard about the whale, including the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay. However, Whale's Tail Charters told Oregon Coast Beach Connection they had spotted the sick gray sometime after Newell, noting it was heading north.

Newell took some pics to ID the whale. Other boats were instructed to stay clear of it.

Where it will wind up next is anyone's guess.

Below, graphic from OSU / Torres showing weight difference in whales over time

Skinny whale issues have been plaguing the west coast for awhile now, and a record number of deceased whales washed ashore along the Oregon and Washington coastlines in 2019. A large number of these had poor weight. Torres and her colleagues conducted a study that followed 200 whales by drone for three years, finding many with worsening conditions.

Changes in the ocean environment seem to be worsening or hastening the declining health of whales, likely affecting the whales' food sources.

Torres also recently released findings from another study that showed whales were consuming an incredible amount of microplastics, which may be contributing to their malnutrition not just by consumption but by the way it's affecting their food sources. MORE DEPOE BAY BELOW

Hotels in Depoe Bay - Where to eat - Depoe Bay Maps and Virtual Tours



MORE PHOTOS BELOW






Booking.com



More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....


Coastal Spotlight


Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Ona Beach's Pristine, Graceful Yet Alien Curiosities: Near Central Oregon Coa...
Ona Beach State Park is part of Brian Booth State Park. Waldport, Newport, Yachats

Feds Seek Suspects in S. Oregon Coast Cliff Vandalism: Graffiti, Digging Laws...
Why it's illegal to dig or even carve on coastal cliffs. Sciences, Gold Beach

S. Oregon Coast's Shore Acres Is Slowly Ramping Up Its Wave Action
At least one big show has hit; 200-ft-waves possible later in year

A Sea of Lights at Newport's Oregon Coast Aquarium Throughout December
First three Friday and Saturday evenings in December 2024. Newport events

Changes, Milestones on Oregon Coast Trail - Gaps Getting Addressed
Changes hands, boat shuttles, other future plans. Weather

Florence's Exploding Whale Memorial Celebration Gets Early Start on Oregon Co...
November 10 at Homegrown Brewery and Siuslaw Museum. Florence events, south coast events

Oregon Coast's 2024 Florence Holiday Festival and Treasure Hunt Begin Soon
Festival on Dec 7; Treasure Hunt starts Nov 29. Florence events

Lighting the Dock, Extra Glass Floats Part of Holidays on Central Oregon Coast
Deck the Dock in Lincoln City, Dec 6 - Glass Floats, Dec 6-7 - Otis Christmas Bazaar, Dec 15. Lincoln City events


Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted