Gray Whale Found Dead After Venturing 20 Miles Up Washington River

Researchers suspect the whale's unusual behavior was driven by hunger as the species' population declines.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:11pm

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A juvenile gray whale that had amazed residents in Washington state by swimming 20 miles up the Willapa River has been found dead. Researchers believe the whale's unusual behavior may have been driven by hunger, as the overall population of gray whales in the eastern Pacific has faced reduced food availability in their Arctic feeding grounds in recent years.

Why it matters

The death of this gray whale highlights the broader challenges facing the species, with the eastern Pacific gray whale population declining to its lowest levels since the 1970s. Researchers suspect the whales are being forced to venture into new areas in search of food as their traditional feeding grounds experience 'localized ecosystem changes' that are impacting the whales' food supply.

The details

The gray whale was discovered dead on Saturday near the town of Raymond, Washington, after swimming 20 miles up the Willapa River, which feeds into the ocean at Willapa Bay. While the whale appeared thin, it was behaving normally and didn't seem injured when researchers first spotted it in the river on Wednesday. However, when researchers tried to locate the whale again on Friday, it had traveled further upriver into unnavigable waters.

  • The gray whale entered the Willapa River on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • The whale was found dead on Saturday, April 5, 2026.

The players

John Calambokidis

A research biologist with the Cascadia Research Collective, who believes the whale's behavior was likely driven by hunger as the eastern Pacific gray whale population faces reduced food availability in their Arctic feeding grounds.

NOAA Fisheries

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agency that declared an 'unusual mortality event' for eastern gray whales from 2018 to 2023, with over 690 gray whale strandings during that time.

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What they’re saying

“Gray whales are facing a major crisis and the heart of it does seem to be feeding on their prey in the Arctic.”

— John Calambokidis, Research Biologist, Cascadia Research Collective

What’s next

Researchers will attempt to examine the dead whale, possibly as soon as Monday, to determine the cause of death.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the broader challenges facing the eastern Pacific gray whale population, which has seen a concerning decline in recent years due to changes in their Arctic feeding grounds. As the whales struggle to find adequate food sources, they may be driven to take more desperate measures, putting them at risk.