West Coast whale strandings reach 62 after second Monterey Bay humpback incident

A second juvenile humpback whale has been found dead in Monterey Bay, washing ashore at Sunset State Beach near Watsonville last night, according to authorities. Officials said they hope the tide may eventually pull the carcass back into the bay.The discovery marks the second juvenile humpback whale stranding in the area this week. Earlier in the week, another dead juvenile humpback whale was found in Pacific Grove near Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station.Response teams from the Marine Mammal Stranding Networks at UC Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Laboratory and San Jose State’s Moss Landing Marine Laboratories are responding to both whales in coordination with NOAA Fisheries, the City of Pacific Grove, Hopkins Marine Station and other local partners.Responders have completed a necropsy on the whale found near Watsonville. Preliminary findings showed no obvious signs of trauma, and officials said the animal appeared to be in relatively good nutritional condition for a stranded whale. Biological samples were collected and will undergo additional laboratory testing in the coming weeks.The earlier whale found in Pacific Grove remains under investigation. Responders continue to collect biological samples while waiting for ocean conditions that would allow the carcass to be safely towed offshore. Lover’s Point has reopened, though a beach advisory remains in effect due to shark activity.The two strandings come during a year of elevated whale mortality along the U.S. West Coast. Before these two humpback whales were discovered, 60 whales had already stranded along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington in 2026. Of those, 52 were gray whales, while eight were from other species. With these two juvenile humpbacks, the total number of documented whale strandings on the West Coast this year has risen to 62.While no single cause has been identified for the recent strandings, investigators say many whales examined so far have been in poor nutritional condition, while several others died as a result of vessel strikes. Officials say each stranding provides an opportunity to better understand whale health and changing ocean conditions.Additional samples may still be collected from both whales in collaboration with research partners to support marine mammal health and conservation research.Officials are asking the public to stay back from both whales, avoid entering sensitive wildlife areas and give responders space to work. The Pacific Grove stranding site is near important harbor seal pupping habitat, and human activity in the area can disturb wildlife during a critical period.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. —

A second juvenile humpback whale has been found dead in Monterey Bay, washing ashore at Sunset State Beach near Watsonville last night, according to authorities.

Officials said they hope the tide may eventually pull the carcass back into the bay.

The discovery marks the second juvenile humpback whale stranding in the area this week.

Earlier in the week, another dead juvenile humpback whale was found in Pacific Grove near Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station.

Response teams from the Marine Mammal Stranding Networks at UC Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Laboratory and San Jose State’s Moss Landing Marine Laboratories are responding to both whales in coordination with NOAA Fisheries, the City of Pacific Grove, Hopkins Marine Station and other local partners.

Responders have completed a necropsy on the whale found near Watsonville.

Preliminary findings showed no obvious signs of trauma, and officials said the animal appeared to be in relatively good nutritional condition for a stranded whale.

Biological samples were collected and will undergo additional laboratory testing in the coming weeks.

The earlier whale found in Pacific Grove remains under investigation. Responders continue to collect biological samples while waiting for ocean conditions that would allow the carcass to be safely towed offshore.

Lover’s Point has reopened, though a beach advisory remains in effect due to shark activity.

The two strandings come during a year of elevated whale mortality along the U.S. West Coast.

Before these two humpback whales were discovered, 60 whales had already stranded along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington in 2026.

Of those, 52 were gray whales, while eight were from other species.

With these two juvenile humpbacks, the total number of documented whale strandings on the West Coast this year has risen to 62.

While no single cause has been identified for the recent strandings, investigators say many whales examined so far have been in poor nutritional condition, while several others died as a result of vessel strikes.

Officials say each stranding provides an opportunity to better understand whale health and changing ocean conditions.

Additional samples may still be collected from both whales in collaboration with research partners to support marine mammal health and conservation research.

Officials are asking the public to stay back from both whales, avoid entering sensitive wildlife areas and give responders space to work.

The Pacific Grove stranding site is near important harbor seal pupping habitat, and human activity in the area can disturb wildlife during a critical period.