Whale sightings and strandings across North America

From the entanglement of Shelagh, a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, to the awe-inspiring appearance of the first blue whale of the season, these events have stunned onlookers and experts.

Read the stories below.

A massive sea creature drew crowds when its carcass washed up on a California beach in the first reported death of the year. By Brian Baer

NO. 1: HUGE SEA CREATURE WASHES UP ON CA COAST IN FIRST REPORTED DEATH THIS YEAR, EXPERTS SAY

“This is the time of year where (the creatures) are headed back to Alaska from Mexico.... And sometimes they die.” | Published April 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger

A North Atlantic right whale entangled in fishing gear was recently spotted off the coast of Canada, officials said. Photo from NOAA

NO. 2: HUGE SEA CREATURE GETS ENTANGLED IN FISHING GEAR — FOR 2ND TIME — OFF CANADA, GROUP SAYS

It belongs to one of the most endangered species of whales in the world, officials said. | Published May 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brendan Rascius

Researchers are seen measuring and taking samples from the humpback whale May 27 in Nehalem Bay State Park in Oregon. NOAA Fisheries, permit 24359

NO. 3: HUMPBACK WHALE WASHES ASHORE OREGON BEACH. ITS DEATH IS A MYSTERY, OFFICIALS SAY

The whale was found as officials investigate tar that’s been appearing on Oregon and Washington shorelines. | Published May 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

Blue whales are the largest creatures to ever live on planet Earth. They are also endangered. NOAA Fisheries

NO. 4: MASSIVE WHALE THE SIZE OF A MULTI-STORY BUILDING STUNS CA ONLOOKERS, VIDEO SHOWS

A football team could stand on its tongue without falling off, experts say. | Published June 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Julia Daye

Humpback whales seem playful to humans, but they are clever and ruthless predators to schooling fish in the North Atlantic. Photo by Karl-Heinz Müller on Unsplash

NO. 5: ‘HUNGRY’ SEA CREATURES LUNGE THROUGH BUBBLE CLOUDS FOR MOUTHFULS OF PREY. SEE THEM

They were “bulking up to withstand their long lean winter months.” | Published July 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Julia Daye

Researchers spotted an extremely rare whale Nov. 17 off the coast of New Jersey, according to a Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center Facebook post. Screengrab from Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center Facebook post

NO. 6: ‘ENORMOUS’ RARE CREATURE WITH ‘STOCKY BLACK BODY’ SPOTTED OFF NJ COAST, EXPERTS SAY

Experts say there are about 370 of the species left. | Published November 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Natalie Demaree

Researchers identified a North American right whale mom by her lighthouse-shaped pattern when she was spotted with a calf off Sapelo Island, Georgia, on Dec. 1. Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 7: RARE SEA CREATURE — AND BABY — SPOTTED OFF GEORGIA COAST IN A FIRST OF CALVING SEASON

There are fewer than 400 left in the wild, experts estimate. | Published December 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

Researchers caught all 26 members of the J pod on camera, including a baby. Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 8: BABY KILLER WHALE SEEN BOUNCING AND ROLLING OFF WASHINGTON. SEE THE PEACHY ORANGE CALF

The Southern Resident killer whale calf is “among the world’s most endangered marine mammals.” | Published February 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

A Bigg’s killer whale calf is seen swimming alongside its mom in the Salish Sea off Washington. Caio Ribeiro Eagle Wing Tours / Pacific Whale Watch Association

NO. 9: KILLER WHALE BECOMES MOM FOR FIRST TIME. SEE HER ‘LITTLE PUMPKIN’ SWIM OFF WASHINGTON

Photos show the baby’s fetal folds, a whale watching group said. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.