Gray whale that was seen around Dyes Inlet in spring likely died from malnutrition

The gray whale that hung around Port Washington Narrows and Dyes Inlet for several weeks in late April and early May has died, according to a whale research organization.

A female gray whale, identified by Cascadia Research Collective as the same one that visited Kitsap County waters, was found floating near Olympia on June 20. Cascadia Research Collective, which examined the whale with Marine Mammal Standing Network and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, reported that malnourishment contributed to the 42-long creature's death. That confirms to a pattern observed in gray whales over the past few years and acknowledges what was suspected when the whale was observed near the Warren Avenue Bridge and the bays around Dyes Inlet this spring. It was last seen swimming in Totten Inlet near Olympic on June 17, according to Cascadia Research.

In a report posted to its website this week, Cascadia Research wrote that the gray whale was one of two found dead on Puget Sound beaches recently. Malnutrition was cited as a significant cause in each death, part of a trend observed over the past four years that is being called an "Unusual Mortality Event" due to the number of gray whales that have died. An investigation into the cause is still ongoing. There have been four gray whales found stranded in June in Washington, according to Cascadia Research, and 12 during 2023 overall. That is higher than the annual average, though on a lower pace than in 2019, when 34 dead gray whales were documented.

The other whale, a 39-foot-long male, was found beached in Ocean Shores.

The female gray whale that visited Kitsap waters had poor blubber condition, a lack of internal fat stores, and no food in its GI tract, according to Cascadia Research's report. There was no evidence of killer whale predation or vehicle collision, the report added.

At the time the whale was observed in Dyes Inlet, John Calambokidis of Cascade Research said the whale appeared thin and emaciated and speculated that it likely was struggling to return to feeding areas.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Gray whale suspected to be malnourished found dead near Olympia