Washington Coast Dealing with Three Dead Gray Whales and How They Died

Published 04/06/26 at 6:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Ocean Shores, Washington) – Three dead gray whales on the Washington coast have drawn plenty of attention in the last week. Not unlike the gray whale that washed up dead on the Oregon coast in recent weeks, these three are also indicative of a disturbing trend in whale mortality. (Photos CRC)

Ocean Shores saw an unusual surge of activity after two dead gray whales washed ashore on April 3, according to Cascadia Research Collective (CRC). Both animals underwent necropsies soon after, and while full results will take time, early findings were troubling.

On Saturday, CRC and other groups hit the sands.

“On April 4, biologists from Cascadia Research, WDFW, and SR³ - Sealife Response, Rehabilitation & Research examined the two dead gray whales that washed ashore in Ocean Shores on April 3,” said CRC. “These 42 ft adults, one male and one female, were both malnourished. The male also had significant trauma to the head, consistent with ship strike. The female was not lactating and would not have been nursing a calf.”

CRC noted that gray whales are typically solitary and do not travel in family groups; the timing and proximity of the strandings were most likely influenced by migration patterns, tides, and currents.

Almost simultaneously, another gray whale swam an extraordinary 20 miles up the Willapa River before dying after four days in the inland waterway.

At first, the mood among observers was a mix of amazement and caution.

“This whale, although thin, was behaving normally and does not appear to have any injuries,” the Cascadia group said this week. “We are giving the whale time and space to leave the river on its own, but plans are being made with our partners at NOAA and WDFW if intervention is needed in the coming days.”

By Friday the whale had disappeared, and experts initially took that as a hopeful sign that it had returned to the ocean.

Around 5 p.m. Saturday, however, CRC confirmed the whale had died.

Another CRC biologist said the outcome was not unexpected. While such upriver travel is unusual, it is not unheard of — and often signals that the animal is in poor condition.

CRC has also performed a necropsy on this whale.

“More details on these and the young whale in the Willapa River will be shared later this week,” CRC said.

Washington’s gray whale population has fallen by more than 50% over the past decade, a decline that continues to alarm marine mammal experts.

Also on the far northern end of Washington's coastline, Skagit County authorities are involved in a disturbing case of animal abuse that involves at least 21 canines killed by someone who also dismembered them and skinned them.

Run of Unusual Animal Deaths on Washington Coast: Whale Swims Up River, Skinned Canines - Grisly series of canine deaths, two whale strandings, another gray whale swims upriver then dies

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