Record numbers of grey whales have beached themselves during this
year's northward migration. It isn't unusual that 1 or 2 whales
will find their way into San Francisco Bay, but this year
- alarmingly - over 20 whales have died along the bay's
shoreline, and a record 43 have died so far along the migratory
route between their arctic summer home and their baja winter
retreat.

Marine biologists have speculated on the possible causes of this
rapid increase including early arctic ice thaws, food supply
contamination, or simply the expected leveling off of the
population that has been steadily increasing since the species
became protected by the international community in the forties.

Whatever the reason, it is quite definately a powerful indicator
of some new environmental change and we should pay close
attention to it and search for solutions.