Gray Whales Are Starving as the Arctic Warms. Will the US Protect Them?

Thousands of them have died in the last decade, and environmental groups might sue the Trump administration for ignoring their plight.

By: Sachi Kitajima Mulkey, Grist

Outlets: Sentient

Published: September 17, 2026

Words: 1,442

Last Updated: 1 day, 5 hours ago

Body Text Preview

This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.

Several hundred scientists, government officials, and environmentalists gathered for an unusual two-day conference in Newport, Oregon, last week, entirely focused on a single species: gray whales.

It was an urgent meeting. The number of gray whales along the U.S. West Coast has recently plummeted by the thousands, falling by half in the last decade. The leading theory is that climate change …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us