Summary: After nearly five decades of studying gray whales, researcher Alisa Schulman-Janiger has developed a deep understanding of their intelligence, sociability and individual personalities. But as numbers decline sharply, scientists are growing increasingly concerned about low birth rates, dwindling food sources and other threats to their survival. Even so, Schulman-Janiger remains hopeful that with greater awareness and conservation, these remarkable animals can recover.
Over her 48 years studying gray whales with the American Cetacean Society — Los Angeles Chapter, Alisa Schulman‑Janiger has had countless memorable encounters with members of the species.
Each helped broaden her understanding and deepen her commitment to her work. But one face-to-face chance meeting with a proud mother and her young calf stands out as particularly remarkable.
“The mom lifted the calf up on her back … and the calf’s eye is making contact with the guide,” she said. “The mom kept pushing up the calf, so the calf could make eye contact. It just felt like — I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it — it felt like electricity.”
Like humans, gray whales have a wide range of personalities. Some are highly sociable and intentionally seek out friendly interactions with people.
Schulman‑Janiger, a research associate at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, has served as director and coordinator of the ACS‑LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project since 1984.
Over the years, she’s had so many personal encounters that she can easily identify many individual gray whales by their unique markings. She can even tell you the names researchers have given each one.
One example is Saddle a female named for the huge white patch on her back. She’s had many calves and is at least 55 years old.
Another well-known whale is Scarback, a female who’s had many calves and feeds primarily off the Oregon coast. She also bears a large wound on her back, likely caused decades ago by a ship strike or an explosive harpoon. Schulman-Janiger has photographed this remarkable survivor several times during the Gray Whale Census.
Each of these close-up encounters leaves an indelible impression, she said.
“It almost feels like you’re looking into their soul,” she said. “Somebody’s home there. It’s a sentient being.”
To witness similar encounters with gray whales, be sure to watch “Following the Whale Trail.” In this episode of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, Co-Host Peter Gros gets up close and personal with gray whales off the coast of California.
For even more amazing footage of gray whales, be sure to catch “Whale Watch.” In this episode, Peter and Dr. Rae travel to remote breeding and nursery lagoons in Mexico’s coastal desert to observe mothers and their calves during the winter months.
What’s behind gray whale decline
Unfortunately, encounters with these magnificent mammals have dropped in recent years due to a significant decline in their numbers. It’s estimated that less than 13,000 gray whales made the annual migration from Mexico to Alaska last year — a 50% decline from 2016.
A smaller subpopulation — about 230 whales — doesn’t usually go all the way to Alaska. This group feeds between Northern California and British Columbia and is identified as the Pacific Coast Feeding Group.
So what’s behind this dramatic decline in gray whale numbers? A record-low birth rate and diminishing food sources.
Many of the gray whales researchers are observing are significantly underweight. Gray whales are opportunistic feeders that will feed on krill, anchovies, squid, crab larvae, mysid shrimp and herring eggs. However, amphipods (tiny shrimp-like creatures) — their primary source of food while in Alaska — are rapidly dying off due to rising ocean temperatures.
“The amphipods that are around tend to be smaller species that don’t provide as much nutrition,” Schulman-Janiger said.
Run-ins with fishing nets and ropes as well as ship strikes have long been a problem for migrating gray whales, but these incidents become an even bigger concern for those that are weak or underweight.
“The skinny whale isn’t able to react as fast to ships,” Schulman‑Janiger said. “It’s more likely to become entangled and not be strong enough to get out of nets.”
The important role of the Channel Islands
For whales that are skinny, delayed or under stress, California’s Channel Islands provide a valuable stopover and refuge. Many gray whales leave their typical near-shore migration corridor to take an offshore shortcut through the Channel Islands on their southward journey to Mexico.
This eight-island archipelago may serve several important functions for migrating gray whales:
- A feeding stop: Gray whales have been repeatedly observed feeding near the islands, especially off Santa Rosa Island.
- A rest stop: The islands can offer shelter from storms and possibly some protection from orcas.
- A place to regain condition: For underweight gray whales, the islands may function as an oasis where they can pick up extra food during migration.
- Alternative habitat: Some gray whales, especially younger ones or members of the Pacific Coast Feeding Group, may linger around island kelp beds rather than continue all the way to Mexico.
Hope for the future
While there are many reasons for concern when it comes to gray whales, Schulman-Janiger has hope their numbers will rebound — something she’s witnessed following other periods of decline. Her optimism stems from the gray whale’s unique ability to switch to other food sources and other feeding strategies when a primary source becomes scarce.
“The fact that they’re generalists, they’re kind of the comeback kids,” she said. “They’re versatile … They’ve always come back.”
While the efforts organizations such as the American Cetacean Society are vital to the future of gray whales and other marine life, there are many things ordinary people and coastal communities can do to help protect these amazing Pacific Coast denizens.
It starts with keeping harmful pollutants out of the ocean.
- Don’t dump oil into storm drains.
- Be careful about what goes down toilets and drains.
- Properly contain litter so it doesn’t wash or blow into waterways.
- Avoid releasing balloons.
- Participate in beach cleanups.
And when you’re enjoying time on the water on a boat or personal watercraft, be on the lookout for telltale signs that a whale is nearby, particularly their distinctive spouts.
“If you see a blow, go slow,” Schulman-Janiger said.
Like any conservation effort, it’s important to educate people, especially children, about the steps they can take today to help protect the future of gray whales for generations to come.
“Just be environmentally conscious as much as possible,” Schulman-Janiger said. “It’s really important to pass that on for the future.”
Gray whale facts
- Gray whales are the only whales that primarily feed on the ocean floor.
- They lack a dorsal fin and instead have a low hump and knuckle‑like ridges along their back.
- Adults can reach 40–50 feet and live at least 50–60 years.
- Healthy adult gray whales weigh between 40 and 50 tons (90,000 pounds).
- Females are slightly larger than males.
- They are known for their curiosity toward humans — especially while they’re in the protected lagoons in Baja Mexico.
- Gray whales show lateral feeding preferences, like human handedness. Most are right-lipped and feed on the bottom while lying on their right sides.
