Are there whales in the San Francisco Bay?
4 min read
Asked by: Vanessa Guaydacan
San Francisco is a great place to go whale watching. Just a few miles off the shore are cool waters that offer the perfect feeding ground for several varieties of whales including grays, blues, and humpbacks. Different whales migrate through this area at different times of the year.
What kind of whales are in San Francisco Bay?
WHAT TYPES OF WHALE CAN YOU SEE?
- Humpback Whale (May – November)
- Gray Whale (December – May)
- Sperm Whale (December – May)
- Orcas (December – May)
- Blue Whale (July – October)
Are there killer whales in San Francisco Bay?
In in San Francisco Bay Jeff Boehm executive director of the Bay Area's Marine Mammal Center says the migrating whales are following food into shallower waters the problem occurs when our our zeal to
Where can I go whale watching in the Bay Area?
Guide: Where to watch gray whales this spring
- Bodega Head. …
- Point Reyes Lighthouse. …
- Muir Beach Overlook. …
- Point Bonita. …
- Fort Funston. …
- Lands End Lookout. …
- Devil’s Slide Trail.
Are there blue whales in San Francisco?
The Farallon Islands, off the coast of San Francisco, are one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots. While scientists regularly visit the area to study sharks or birds, the current focus has been on the 47 blue whales recently documented around the Farallones.
Does SF Bay have sharks?
Around 11 species of Sharks are found in the Bay itself – including Leopard Shark, Pacific Angel Shark, Brown Smoothhound, Broadnose Sevengill, Soupfin Shark. The Leopard Shark is the most common in the Bay. Small Spiny Dogfish are found swimming on the bottom of the Bay.
Are there sharks under the Golden Gate?
While great white sharks are occasionally seen near the Golden Gate Bridge, they rarely stray into the Bay’s main waters. Great whites are most abundant near the Farallon Islands, 35 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge.
How deep is the San Francisco Bay?
The deepest part of the bay is under and out of the Golden Gate Bridge, at 372 ft (113 m).
Can you see whales from the Golden Gate Bridge?
If you want to view whales without getting on a boat, then the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco may be the way to go. Several humpback whales were spotting enjoying the water under the bridge in one of California’s most iconic bays.
What is the best month for whale watching in California?
In Northern California, your best time to spot gray whales and orcas is December to May. For humpbacks, visit May through November, and for blue whales, the largest animal on Earth, plan your stay sometime between July and October.
Do blue whales come to California?
Blue whales are most likely to be spotted in Monterey Bay in summer or fall. They feed off the California coast from June through October. During these months, about two thousand blue whales swim in the waters off the central coast including in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Are whales migrating now in California?
Gray whales are migrating along California’s coast right now. Here’s where to see them. A baby gray whale swims with its mother off Dana Point. The gray whales are back, hugging the California coast while they make their 10,000-mile journey from Alaska to breed in the warm-water lagoons of Baja, Mexico, and back.
How big is the California Blue Whale?
The blue whale is the largest mammal and the largest living animal on earth. It has an impressive blow that is easily distinguished from other whales and reaches 12 m (39 feet) tall.
Are blue whales friendly?
In a nutshell, yes, blue whales are friendly animals. These animals feed almost exclusively in krill, so have no interest in humans and are not a threat to us.
How rare is seeing a blue whale?
As blue whales are extremely rare, places where you are sure to spot them are just as rare. On the other hand, their annual migration routes are well known. Blue whales usually travel back and forth between tropic and polar waters, so in theory you could meet them in any sea all over the world.
