Gray whales have been dying off at an alarming rate since 2019. Scientists at Oregon State think the deaths could be due to melting sea ice, a new study says. Two other mass die-offs of gray whales occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, though those only lasted a couple of years; the latest is still ongoing. "Even highly mobile, long-lived species such as gray whales are sensitive to climate change impacts," Stewart said. And while he said we probably do not have to worry about extinction, we may have to simply get used to having fewer gray whales.

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Persons: Gray, —, emaciation, Joshua Stewart, we've, Stewart Organizations: Oregon State, Service, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Mammal, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon Locations: Oregon, Mexico, Alaska, Baja, Oregon State