There may be more gray whale deaths and more whales in poor condition this year than normal, according to an Olympia-based research group.
Cascadia Research Collective came to that conclusion based on above normal reports of gray whale strandings, entanglements, and sightings of whales in poor body condition.
At least five gray whales have been stranded this year, most of which showed signs of nutritional stress. That number is not unusual for an entire year, but it is high for a five-month period, according to Cascadia Research Collective. Peak stranding season runs from April through June.
The research group has also recently spotted groups of gray whales in poor body condition, including two whales that were seen in a new area in South Puget Sound.
Recent reports of whale entanglement were also a concern. At least three whales have gotten entangled in fishing gear since the beginning of April, including a juvenile gray whale that was freed last week. The long-term prognosis for that whale looks poor, due to serious injuries it got while entangled, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
In 1999 and 2000, elevated whale mortality resulted in thousands of gray whale deaths, including 25 each year in Washington state.
