Gray whales off the Oregon coast have been shrinking over the past two decades

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 grew to be more than 13% shorter 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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