Tragic Tale of 'Willapa Willy': Young Gray Whale's River Adventure Ends Sadly

A young gray whale, nicknamed 'Willapa Willy' by local residents, was found dead after swimming about 20 miles up the Willapa River in Washington state. The whale was first spotted last Wednesday in the north fork of the river, which is about 145 miles southwest of Seattle. Scientists from a marine mammal research group said the whale was thin but did not appear to have any injuries. They had hoped the whale would find its way back to the ocean, but unfortunately, it did not survive. The group is now checking if it is safe to examine the whale where it was found.

Gray whales are known for their long migrations every spring. They travel north along the Pacific Coast to feed in the Arctic, using up their energy reserves during the journey. John Calambokidis, a research biologist, explained that when gray whales cannot find enough food, they sometimes search for new places to feed, which might explain why this whale ended up in the river. In recent years, gray whales in the eastern Pacific Ocean have had trouble finding enough food in the northern Bering and Chukchi seas near Alaska. This has caused a crisis for the species, as feeding in the Arctic is very important for their survival.

Gray whales are a popular attraction for whale watching and ecotourism along the west coast of North America. They can grow up to 49 feet long and weigh around 90,000 pounds. However, they face many threats, such as being hit by ships or getting tangled in fishing gear during their long migrations. Gray whales usually travel alone, and strong bonds between individuals are rare. Earlier in April, two adult gray whales were found dead near Ocean Shores. Both were malnourished, and one had a head injury likely caused by a ship strike. The most recent population count from winter 2025 shows that the number of gray whales is still going down, reaching the lowest level since the 1970s.