22 gray whales have already died of strandings this year on Northwest beaches

22 gray whales have already died of strandings this year on Northwest beaches

22 gray whales have died stranded on Washington and Puget Sound coasts this year, already exceeding the 2019 record pace. Malnutrition — driven by Arctic climate change depleting benthic prey — is the primary cause, with ship strikes confirmed in at least 4 cases.