Gray+Whale

Gray whale By Stevie P



Gray Whales can be seen from the highway turnouts in Big Sur from December through April. December to early February the California Gray Whales are migrating south. Beginning in February you begin seeing whales migrating back to Alaska with their newborn babies by their sides. There is sometimes what appears to be an overlap in migration patterns with some whales still heading south while others are moving north. Their northern migration they swim close to shore, with their babies on the shore side. It has been said this is to protect them from attacks from great white sharks. This is often when the best viewing can take place because they are moving more slowly because of their young calves and also they are swimming against the current. Female gray whales usually give birh every two to three years, and gestation last twelve tothirteen months. New born calves are 12 to 15 in length and weigh a 1,500 pounds. Calves are weaned at about eight months, after they have journeyed with their mothers back to the northern feeding grounds. Since gray whales migrate relatively close to shore, whales from coastal cliffs and headlines or whole watching boats. In recent years,"friendly whales" have been encountered in San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California in Mexico. Female gray whales reach lengths up to 45 feet and weight as much as70,000 lb. Males are slightly smaller. At birth calves are approximately 15 feet long. Gray Whales, like most other baleen whales, migrate to warmer waters during the winter months. They ate tiny shrimp-like animals like amphipods and other bottom-dwelling animals. Gray whales were nearly to extinction twice. Beacause they travel the same north-south routes on their migrationand breed in the lagoons.T hey were easily found/hunted. We can reduce pollution of the oceans and use the adopt the whale programs to save it from extinction.