© 2024 | Jefferson Public Radio
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6301 | 800.782.6191
a service of Southern Oregon University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Poor Start To Whale Watching Season

<p>A gray whale breaching in the Pacific Ocean.</p>

Courtesey of NOAA

A gray whale breaching in the Pacific Ocean.

Winter storms and rain have reduced visibility at the coast this season — meaning the whale watching hasn’t been so good.

But Oregon State Park Ranger, Luke Parsons, expects that to change this week as clear skies and calmer weather are in the forecast.

He says up to 20,000 whales will swim by during the migration.

“They weigh anywhere between 20 and 40 tons each and so when you see a whole group of these go by, it’s pretty awe inspiring just to see that type of sea life, this close to us in Oregon," said Parsons.

Parsons staffs the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay.

He said grey whales are making their way south to the warmer waters off Mexico to breed and give birth.

The whales start heading back up to the food-rich waters off Alaska in March so they can spend their summers eating.

Copyright 2020 EarthFix. To see more, visit .

Kristian Foden-Vencil is a reporter and producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting. He specializes in health care, business, politics, law and public safety.