San Francisco, CA
Wildlife mystery: Why are gray whales swimming into San Francisco Bay in increasing numbers?
Gray whales have been veering off their normal routes along the West Coast and swimming under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay in unprecedented numbers.
Using thousands of photographs of distinctive markings on the whales’ backs to identify them, marine scientists have confirmed that at least 71 different gray whales—and possibly 84 or more—swam into the bay between 2018 and 2023, with some staying for more than two months, raising their risk of being hit by cargo ships, oil tankers or other large vessels.
From 2010 to 2017, only about one or two of the giant marine mammals came into the bay every year. Last year, however, there were at least 16, and in 2019 there were at least 21.
“We think it has a lot to do with the fact that the whales haven’t been getting enough food,” said Bill Keener, a biologist with The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit group in Sausalito. “They may be weak and resting for a while, or they looking for an alternative food source.”
Some are malnourished, he said.
From 2019 to 2023, 22 gray whales were found dead in or near San Francisco Bay, according to data from The Marine Mammal Center, the California Academy of Sciences and public agencies. Of those, 14 died from unknown causes. Researchers performed studies, called necropsies, on nine of the whales. Six died from malnourishment. Three died from a collision with a ship.
Over the past four years, dead gray whales have been found inside San Francisco Bay off Angel Island, and near Richmond, Rodeo, Hercules, San Leandro, Mountain View, the Port of Oakland, Tiburon, the Berkeley Marina and Martinez.
“They aren’t just near the Golden Gate,” said Keener, who said a slower speed limit for big ships in the bay may be needed. “They are way into the bay, past Angel Island, down to Treasure Island. There’s a lot of ship traffic there.”
Wayward whales have inspired public interest for years.
One lost humpback, nicknamed Humphrey, gained national attention in 1985 and became the subject of children’s books, songs and a movie—drawing crowds of onlookers with binoculars—when he swam into the bay. Humphrey meandered up the Delta to sloughs 25 miles south of Sacramento, staying 26 days before finally returning to the Pacific Ocean as researchers played whale songs from speakers off boats to lure him west.
In 2007, a mother humpback and her calf, nicknamed “Delta and Dawn,” swam into the bay and ventured as far up the Delta as Rio Vista before scientists in boats coaxed them back into the open ocean 10 days later.
There was also a jump in the number of humpback whales that swam under the Golden Gate Bridge pursuing anchovies in from 2016 to 2018. They stayed only a few days each.
But the latest trend with gray whales seems different, researchers say. It could be a sign of stress in the wider population.
The pattern comes amid a big drop in the gray whale numbers off the Pacific Coast in recent years.
Once hunted by whaling ships in the 1800s for their oil until there were only about 1,000 or 2,000 individuals left, gray whales were protected in 1972 when President Nixon signed the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The last whaling company in the United States, the Del Monte Fishing Company, operated at Point Molate in Richmond. It made Kal-Kan dog food out of whales that its crews shot with mechanized harpoon cannons. The company closed in December 1971 as the law was about to take effect.
After whaling was banned in the U.S., numbers of gray whales increased. By 1994, after they reached a healthy population, the Clinton administration removed them from the Endangered Species Act list in what is still considered one of the nation’s major wildlife success stories.
Their population jumped to 27,000 by 2016, according to estimates from NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But then it fell by at least one third by 2022. Hundreds of malnourished whales began to wash up on beaches in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Mexico. Nobody knew why.
Researchers said the die-off from 2018 to 2023, which NOAA called an “unusual mortality event,” was likely due to a shortage of food in the Arctic linked to changes in the amount of sea ice, wind patterns and other factors. Whales eat 3,000 pounds or more of food a day, preferring small, shrimp-like crustaceans known as amphipods, along with worms and other tiny creatures that they scoop from the sea floor.
Last year, gray whale numbers began to rebound to as many as 21,000. NOAA declared an end to the “unusual mortality event” in November. Scientists are watching carefully to see if the change is temporary or permanent.
The roller coaster population—and weird detours into San Francisco Bay—could be related to climate change, or it could be part of the gray whale’s natural population fluctuations, said John Calambokidis, a research biologist with Cascadia Research, in Olympia, Washington.
“What is a natural cycle?” he said. “Is this normal? Or something unusual? The ecosystem in the Arctic has changed very rapidly. That’s one reason this has scientists’ attention.”
One thing is clear: The gray whales coming into San Francisco Bay are heading north as part of their annual migration from Baja, Mexico where they mate and breed, and turning right under the Golden Gate Bridge instead of continuing north to Alaska where they stock up on food during the summer months.
A lot is known about the latest trend because one researcher, Josephine Slaathaug, of the Marine Mammal Center, painstakingly sorted through more than 11,000 photographs of gray whales in San Francisco Bay last year. She built a database, identifying individual whales from photos taken on whale watching boats, the shoreline, and the center’s boats. She showed the animals are most common in March and April, and stayed in the bay between 13 and 75 days.
Slaathaug, a masters student at Sonoma State University, won a prestigious fellowship in April from the National Science Foundation as she expands the study in the coming years. One key question: Will the number of gray whales in the bay go down if their food in the Arctic recovers, and the West Coast population increases?
“We don’t understand all the drivers,” she said. “We have preliminary data. But we do know that with all the ships, the bay is not a very safe place for the whales.”
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Three teenagers were arrested in San Francisco this week for allegedly robbing a man of his shooter at gunpoint.
San Francisco police said on Saturday that a 16-year-old male and two 18-year-olds were identified as suspects in the armed robbery, which took place on Sunday at about 1:45 a.m.
Jefferson Galo and Jephson Galo, both 18-year-old San Francisco residents, were arrested on allegations of possessing an illegal firearm, conspiracy, carjacking, and other accusations.
The name of the juvenile suspect was not released.
The victim was on his scooter in the 300 block of Bayview Boulevard when he was surrounded by the assailants, who prevented him from fleeing, police said.
The suspects were located at Nevada Street and Cortland Avenue, where police allegedly found them with handguns in their possession. Property was then allegedly found that belonged to the victim, along with other potentially stolen property, according to police.
San Francisco police asked anyone with information about the case to contact the police department at (415) 575-4444.
FOXBOROUGH – This isn’t where the Patriots wanted to be, but after two losses in a row, the show must go on.
On Friday, the Patriots left New England for a cross-country trip to San Francisco to take on a talented 49ers team. After a strong start and upset win, to start the season, Jerod Mayo’s team is coming off a blowout loss to the New York Jets.
Now, they’ll take on the NFC favorites, on the road.
The 49ers have a roster full of elite players but are also dealing with health issues. San Francisco’s offense will be without All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey and Pro Bowl receiver Deebo Samuel. On top of that, four Pro Bowlers – tight end George Kittle (hamstring), tackle Trent Williams (illness), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps), and quarterback Brock Purdy (back) – were on the injury report this week.
The Patriots must turn the page and forget about their performance in New York.
“What I will say is the challenge for us is just in the front: offensive line and defensive line. I don’t want to sound repetitive, but they are a do-what-they-do type of team, and we know what they’re going to do, the fans know what they’re going to do, but you still have to stop them,” Mayo said. “They have a lot of good players on that team, offensively and defensively, All-Pro-caliber players almost at every level if you really look at the roster. So, it’s definitely a challenge, and I think the guys – I tell them all the time, look at it as an opportunity to go out there and perform.”
Here are five things to watch when the Patriots take on the 49ers:
Brandon Aiyuk
This matchup is like when you see someone in public who once rejected your advances and hope to show them what they’re missing.
The Patriots had a trade in place with the 49ers to acquire All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk. They even had a contract offer on the table that would’ve reportedly made him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.
Instead, Aiyuk rejected the Patriots, used them as leverage, and ended up re-signing with the 49ers for less money.
Ouch.
The Patriots will get a chance to see Aiyuk on Sunday. It’ll be fascinating to see if Christian Gonzalez can slow down the receiver. Aiyuk clearly didn’t think much of the Patriots roster. We’ll see how they respond.
Jacoby Brissett
The Patriots passing attack is ranked last in the NFL, averaging 102 passing yards per game. Of course, the team is also ranked first in the NFL in interception rate (0.0%).
Jacoby Brissett has a tough job. He’s being used as a piñata this season, taking hits from opposing defenses while keeping the seat warm for Drake Maye. The veteran hasn’t exactly lit up the stat sheet this season, but he’s also not making too many egregious mistakes.
Out of all quarterbacks, who’ve started three games, Brissett is last in the NFL with 368 passing yards, but his interception percentage of zero is tied for first. The 49ers are ranked 20th in the NFL in passing defense. They’ve allowed 217.7 passing yards per game.
We’ll see if Brissett can put together a better effort this time.
Offensive line
Brissett has been sacked at an alarming rate this season.
Entering this week, he’s fourth in the NFL in sack percentage (the times sacked on plays where he’s supposed to pass the ball). Last week, he was sacked five times and hit 12 times overall.
That won’t work on Sunday. San Francisco has one of the better pass rushes in the NFL. Four-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa anchors this defensive line. On Thursday, Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt called Bosa a “nightmare.”
The Patriots should be getting back left guard Sidy Sow this week. That’s positive. However, they’ll likely start third-string left tackle Caedan Wallace. He’s been elevated due to Vederian Lowe’s knee injury and Chuks Okorafor leaving the team.
We’ll see if the results are any different.
Rhamondre Stevenson
The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best-run defenses in the NFL. They head into this game ranked ninth in the league, allowing 104 yards per game on the ground. Opposing teams, however, are averaging 4.52 yards per carry against the 49ers – and that’s 21st in the league.
That brings us to Rhamondre Stevenson.
He’s arguably the Patriots best offensive player. He’s why the Patriots offense didn’t look putrid in the first two weeks. However, he’s fumbled three games in a row. That’s bad news because after going away from the run last week, the Patriots need to hammer the ground game again.
Will Stevenson bounce back? It’s the Patriots best bet to move the football, so they are probably hoping he does.
Defensive performance
Expectations for the Patriots offense were already low. The big hope for this year’s team was that the defense would be a top-10 unit. However, they haven’t looked the part in the past two games.
Now, they enter this week ranked tenth in points allowed (19.0 per game) so that’s solid. The defense struggled the past two weeks against Aaron Rodgers and Geno Smith. Their passing defense is currently ranked 27th in the NFL while their run defense is among the best at No. 5.
Last week, the Patriots struggled to tackle, so that needs to improve on Sunday. They also need more turnovers and sacks. So far, the secondary has zero interceptions while the group is 22nd in sacks per pass attempt.
Can the Patriots defense turn it around in San Francisco?
Prediction: 49ers 23, Patriots 16
San Francisco, CA
St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants — A game thread for September 27, 2024
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