Think Out Loud

Broadcast: Thursday, June 27

two gray whales viewed from above in the open ocean — Two gray whales in the Pacific Coast Feeding Group are shown here in an undated provided photo. The whales, which spend the summer in the waters between Northern California and British Columbia, have been shrinking in size since about 2000.
*Courtesy Oregon State University*

A population of gray whales that feed off the Oregon coast have been shrinking in size over the last 20 years. New research from Oregon State University shows that whales born in 2020 are expected to be more than 13% shorter when full grown than whales born before 2000. The shrinkage could bring significant reproductive health challenges for the whales, and could also be a warning sign about the health of the broader ecosystem.

K.C. Bierlich is an assistant professor of senior research at OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute. He joins us with more details.

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