Juvenile Gray Whale Found Dead After Swimming Up Willapa River Amid Pacific Population Decline

A juvenile gray whale that captured the attention of residents in Raymond, Washington, was discovered dead on Saturday in the Willapa River, approximately 20 miles inland from the coast. The whale had journeyed up the river from Willapa Bay earlier in the week, drawing crowds eager to witness the unusual inland visit.

According to biologist John Calambokidis of the Cascadia Research Collective, the whale's foray into the river likely stemmed from hunger, as gray whales across the eastern Pacific continue to face a population crisis driven by decreased food availability in their Arctic feeding grounds. Calambokidis explained that ongoing ecosystem changes in the northern Bering and Chukchi seas off Alaska’s coast have significantly reduced access to their usual prey, forcing some whales into desperate searches for alternative food sources.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries agency previously declared an unusual mortality event for eastern gray whales, documenting 690 strandings from late 2018 to late 2023 between Alaska and Mexico. Although hopes had risen for recovery, the latest federal estimate in 2025 suggests the eastern Pacific gray whale population stands at roughly 13,000—its lowest since the 1970s. Many whales observed during the spring migration currently appear noticeably emaciated, researchers report.

The juvenile whale’s arrival in the Willapa River drew crowds to local bridges, with onlookers sharing images and video on social media. The Cascadia Research Collective noted in public updates that, while the whale was thin, it did not appear to have any injuries and was behaving normally during its trek inland. Researchers allowed the animal time to exit the river independently, but by Friday, it had moved further upstream into shallow waters unreachable by boat. Its body was found the following day.

Researchers expect to examine the whale in the coming days to better understand the circumstances surrounding its death. The current situation reflects ongoing concerns about gray whale health and the broader challenges facing the species’ survival in the eastern Pacific.