{"id":5366,"date":"2012-02-13T20:07:33","date_gmt":"2012-02-14T04:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mlmlblog.wordpress.com\/?p=5366"},"modified":"2021-03-18T14:43:23","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T21:43:23","slug":"gray-whale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/2012\/02\/13\/gray-whale\/","title":{"rendered":"To Meet a Giant: Responding to a Stranded Baby Gray Whale"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
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Brynn Hooton-Kaufman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

by Brynn Hooton-Kaufman<\/h3>\n

It started as any good weekend day might.\u00a0 A good cup of coffee, a good book, and a view of the bay.\u00a0 I like to park my car looking out over the tidepools at Asilomar and read, letting the crashing waves add interesting sound effects to whatever scene is playing out in my current novel of choice. \u00a0Knee deep in Jurassic Park, the waves were bringing to life velociraptors crashing through the forest. \u00a0Intimidating and terrifying, those velociraptors. \u00a0But you can’t help but admire them, and the juveniles sound pretty cute. \u00a0Given the chance, I’d probably take a baby velociraptor for a pet. \u00a0At least until it started stalking me around the house.<\/p>\n

When the sounds of my empty stomach started overpowering the thundering waves, I headed home to make some lunch and get things in order for the coming week. \u00a0Not two steps into the kitchen my phone buzzed, signaling the arrival of a text message. \u00a0More often than not, I’d have ignored it, as hunger usually wins out in my ranking of priorities. \u00a0But as all things happen for a reason, I decided to take a look, and so for once, my phone didn’t get forgotten for hours on end as it usually does.<\/p>\n

“hey\u00a0gray\u00a0whale\u00a0calf alive and stranded near monterey dunes colony. \u00a0TMMC is headed to the scene, we may need ur help! \u00a0r u available today?”<\/p>\n

I had to read the message twice. \u00a0As much as people might think all marine biologists spend hours on end with dolphins, whales, and other majestic creatures of the sea, learning their mannerisms, capable of identifying any sleek shape that might be surfacing in the bay on a giving day, I hadn’t actually even seen a\u00a0whaleup close. \u00a0My closest call was a pod of orcas sighted from the bow of the Point Sur during a class cruise, and I just caught a glimpse of their backs as they headed away. \u00a0Usually, my most intimate experience with whales was seeing the poof of sea spray that they leave like a footprint above the water, the proof that one of the giants had just taken a great breath before submerging. \u00a0I really don’t know much about whales. \u00a0I study seaweed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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(photo: KSBW, Amy Larson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

“gray\u00a0whale\u00a0calf alive and stranded”<\/p>\n

I read it again. \u00a0This could be the experience of a lifetime. \u00a0Even with my lack of whale\u00a0expertise, I could offer my help as an extra set of hands. \u00a0But then, I had a ton of things I planned to get done today. \u00a0My thesis draft, though completed and sent off for editing, needed cleaning up in a hundred different ways. \u00a0I still hadn’t started the presentation for my thesis defense, and creating a 45 minute talk was no small undertaking. \u00a0I was already behind at work because it was a short holiday week, and I had 50 + people coming for a talk given by one of our grads on Wednesday. \u00a0A checklist of to-do’s was mounting for my internship, and the technical demands of the tasks were stretching the bounds of my capability. \u00a0And I didn’t even want to think about the mounting pile of dishes in the sink.<\/p>\n

Who was I kidding? \u00a0Opportunities like this just don’t come around twice. \u00a0There will always be more dishes.<\/p>\n

“Do you want to go out on a baby\u00a0gray\u00a0whale\u00a0stranding?” I asked my partner in crime, better known as my husband Zach, hoping he’d too be willing to drop his holiday Monday plans and join me on an adventure. \u00a0“Yeah,” he responded, with the mildest undertone of surprise in his voice. \u00a0I made a mental note that he’d officially become immune to all of the quirkiness that comes from a trajectory in marine science. \u00a0You’re going tidepooling at three in the morning during the middle of winter because that’s when the low tide hits? \u00a0Sure, why not. \u00a0You want to scuba dive in the harbor despite the sludge pouring off the squid boats because you need to collect seaweed for your thesis? \u00a0Sounds reasonable to me. \u00a0He was becoming unflappable to my requests. \u00a0Then I noticed his brows furrowing just a bit. \u00a0His logical side was kicking in, realizing he should gather more information before blindly following along on my quest. \u00a0“Where is the\u00a0whale? \u00a0How big is it? \u00a0And what are we going to do?,” he asked.<\/p>\n

“All I know is that it’s near Moss Landing,” I replied. \u00a0The other questions I didn’t have answers to. \u00a0How big is a baby\u00a0gray\u00a0whale, anyway? \u00a0As big as a horse? \u00a0Or a van? \u00a0I had no idea. \u00a0But I was going to find out, once we made it to the beach. \u00a0“I’ll try and get more information from Steph, but either way, do you want to go? \u00a0It’s probably a once in a lifetime kind of thing.” \u00a0At this point, a thought dawned on me. \u00a0Up until now, I’d only thought of how exciting it’d be to see a baby\u00a0whale, and maybe even to touch it. \u00a0I hadn’t considered what its ultimate fate might be. \u00a0It must have shown on my face, because Zach tuned in and asked what was wrong. \u00a0“Well, I hadn’t really thought that the poor guy might die. \u00a0I’m not really sure how these things usually turn out,” I responded.<\/p>\n

“Do you really want to go?”<\/p>\n

To answer that question, I didn’t have to think twice.<\/p>\n

After a hurried rush around the house, wet suits, towels, binoculars and a camera were thrown into our car and we set off toward Moss Landing. \u00a0A call to Stephanie Hughes, a friend, fellow grad student, and MLML stranding coordinator, gave us a general idea of where to go, but she too was short on information, and would be heading down as soon as she could. \u00a0We’d just have to wait until we got there. \u00a0We pulled up to the gate of the Monterey Dunes Colony, and I punched the call button for the operator. \u00a0“Can I help you?” she inquired. \u00a0I began answering, “I’m with Moss Landing Marine Labs, I’m here to – ,” before she cut me off. \u00a0“Oh I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, relieved, “go on through.” \u00a0Ma’am, I wish I had your confidence in me. \u00a0Too bad I study seaweed. \u00a0And I pulled the car on through the gate.<\/p>\n

It took a couple tries to find the\u00a0whale\u00a0on the beach. \u00a0It’s a long beach, and maybe the\u00a0whale\u00a0wasn’t as big as I’d thought, since nothing stuck out like a sore thumb. \u00a0I peered intently through the lenses of my binoculars at groups of people on the beach. \u00a0No, just a group of kids building a sand castle. \u00a0A few people beachcombing. \u00a0Finally, I saw a group of four or five people, and a long shape just mounded above the sand. \u00a0That would be the\u00a0whale, I guessed.<\/p>\n

We piled back in the car, and headed farther down the beach. \u00a0We made a trek over the dunes, and finally, we came upon the\u00a0whale.<\/p>\n

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The Marine Mammal Center volunteers were the first responders to the baby gray whale stranding. (photo: Zach Kaufman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Somewhere over 10 feet long, the\u00a0whale\u00a0was a beautiful watercolor pallet of mottled grays. \u00a0It was beached where the water was just washing up on the sand, and The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) volunteers were working hard to keep it covered with a sheet, and to keep it upright. \u00a0There was also what looked to be a high schooler helping, using a small bucket to keep the sheet wet. \u00a0One volunteer was setting up a perimeter with caution tape to keep any interested folks back.<\/p>\n

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The TMMC volunteers continuously checked the whale’s condition. (photo: Zach Kaufman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Zach hung back and took a couple of photos, I walked up and introduced myself. \u00a0“Hi, I’m Brynn and I’m from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories,” I said, as I shook one of the TMMC volunteer’s hand. \u00a0“Great,” the volunteer responded, and she launched into a rundown of the whales condition that included terms like “umbi and fetal folds.” \u00a0As much as I was interested in learning about the\u00a0whale, I didn’t want to waste her time, since these terms really didn’t mean anything me yet. \u00a0“I’m sorry,” I interjected, “I was told by Stephanie Hughes, our stranding coordinator, about the\u00a0whale\u00a0and I’ve come to help, but I’m really only a second set of hands. \u00a0I study seaweed.” \u00a0She immediately found a use for me, and asked me to finish putting up a perimeter to help keep folks back.<\/p>\n

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(photo: Zach Kaufman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Zach and I were tying caution tape, it became apparent that the waves were starting the move the\u00a0whale\u00a0around, and it was becoming more difficult for the TMMC volunteers to handle the\u00a0whale\u00a0with the three of them. \u00a0It dawned on me that I’d watched the tide fall when I was reading my book at Asilomar earlier in the morning, but at this point it had probably turned, and was coming back in. \u00a0Handling the\u00a0whale\u00a0was only going to become more difficult. \u00a0Zach seemed to be thinking the same thing, and after exchanging a couple words we decided to go get our wet suits on so we’d be more capable of helping.<\/p>\n

After returning with our suits on, we jumped into action. \u00a0The TMMC crew explained that when out of water, whales’ skin begins to slough off. \u00a0So, we needed to keep the baby’s skin damp and shaded as much as possible with the sheet they had brought. \u00a0And of course, the baby also needed to breathe. \u00a0Keeping it upright so that its blowhole wasn’t covered was certainly a priority. \u00a0Finally, we needed to protect ourselves from any potential cooties we could catch from the\u00a0whale. \u00a0When we were near the blowhole, we needed to wear a mask to make sure we didn’t breathe in any infectious material the\u00a0whale\u00a0might be breathing out.<\/p>\n

What diseases could an infant\u00a0whale\u00a0have, anyway? \u00a0As I later found out in conversation with some mammal lab MLMLers, we really don’t know. \u00a0So, better safe than sorry.<\/p>\n

I also quickly learned that we needed to make sure to protect ourselves from the strength of the waves coming in, and the baby itself. \u00a0It’s a hard and fast rule in my book that you never turn your back to the ocean, and this wasn’t an exception. \u00a0The baby presented a hazard too, since it was similar in weight to a large horse or a cow, and a flap of its fluke could easily cause a serious injury. \u00a0Or, if a wave rolled it over onto one of us, it could break one of our legs or arms, and trap us underwater. \u00a0If we were injured, we certainly wouldn’t be able to help the\u00a0whale. \u00a0Safety quickly became our number one priority.<\/p>\n

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It took a lot of muscle to keep the baby whale from rolling around in the surf. (photo: KSBW, Amy Larson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next couple hours became a blur of freezing cold hands, tired muscles, tumbling waves, and complete awe at spending time with such a majestic animal. \u00a0While constantly readjusting the protective sheet and trying to brace the giant against the forceful waves, I felt its smooth, warm, slick skin. \u00a0Sadly, despite our efforts, I saw it sloughing off in many places as the time wore on. \u00a0Working up near its immense head, I got to look into its dark, soft eyes in the rare moment when it took a look around. \u00a0As the tide came in and made it more difficult to keep the whale\u00a0stable and upright, the\u00a0whale\u00a0looked more and more weary, and it stopped opening its eyes.<\/p>\n

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(photo: KSBW, Amy Larson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The question nagging at my mind was: what could we do for the\u00a0whale?<\/p>\n

Throughout the day, more TMMC volunteers showed up, as did my fellow MLMLers from the vertebrate ecology lab. \u00a0Soon, my question was answered. \u00a0As I learned from my peers, the most humane thing for the baby\u00a0whale\u00a0was euthanasia. \u00a0The mom was nowhere to be found, and we hadn’t seen a spout offshore all day. \u00a0Without mom, the baby would have no milk and food source, or protection from predators. \u00a0Chances were, it would be right back on the beach and its suffering would be prolonged. \u00a0And the truth was, earlier in the day when the\u00a0whale\u00a0was a little stronger, there was no way we could have gotten it into the water. \u00a0It was just too big, and even with more people, we couldn’t have moved it without the help of the tide. \u00a0The tide wasn’t high enough until much later, when the\u00a0whale\u00a0was already weary, weak, and barely responsive.<\/p>\n

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(photo: KSBW, Amy Larson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course we wouldn’t have known this, either, but the next day a large pod of orcas spent hours in the area, and if the baby had been in the water alone it would have almost certainly become prey.<\/p>\n

At some point in the afternoon, the marine mammal veterinarian made it to the scene, and seconded the assessment of the stranding network responders from the MLML vertebrate ecology lab. \u00a0He did a thorough examination for confirmation, and administered a large does of sedative that would quietly put the\u00a0whale\u00a0out of any suffering. \u00a0It turns out the baby was a female, and he said he thought it was at most a day or two old.<\/p>\n

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(photo: KSBW, Amy Larson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With no more that we could do, Zach and I gathered our belongings and slowly changed back into dry clothes. \u00a0It wasn’t an easy task with no feeling in our hands and feet. \u00a0We watched the body of the\u00a0whale, no longer alive, being moved farther up the beach by winch where it would stay until the following day when the MLML vertebrate ecology students could come back for a necropsy. \u00a0At least we might learn from this\u00a0whale’s stranding by assessing its internal condition. \u00a0On our walk back to the car, we ran into the same high schooler who had been helping at the scene early on, and tagging alongside was what looked like his younger brother, guitar in hand. \u00a0“How’s it doing,” said the older boy eagerly, with an Australian accent that made me guess they were here on vacation. \u00a0“Sorry to give you bad news, but it had to be put to sleep” I responded, hoping not to cause too much disappointment. \u00a0Their moods visibly went from excitement to dismay, but of course, as boys, they tried not to let it show too much. \u00a0“I was coming to play it a farewell song as it swam away,” said the younger one holding his guitar. \u00a0I couldn’t help but smile. \u00a0I explained to the boys what had happened – that the\u00a0whale\u00a0had no way of surviving, and that the most humane thing was done – and it was clear they understood and agreed. \u00a0I also told them that they could come the next day to watch the necropsy, if they wanted, and that the MLML students would probably be able to answer more questions if they had them.<\/p>\n

Before we walked on, I made one final suggestion. \u00a0“You know,” I said, looking down at the boy with the guitar, “you might consider playing the song you had planned, anyway.” \u00a0“I know the\u00a0whale\u00a0isn’t alive anymore, but somehow, it just seems a fitting farewell.”<\/p>\n

And so he did.<\/p>\n

For news coverage of the baby gray whale stranding, you can visit the following links:\u00a0<\/em>
\nBeached Baby Gray Whale Dies Near Monterey Bay<\/a> – KCRA
\nBaby Gray Whale Beached Near Salinas State Beach Dies<\/a> – KSBW
\nBaby Whale Washed Ashore in Moss Landing<\/a> – KION<\/p>\n

The newly released film, ‘Big Miracle,’ was based on the real-life rescue of two gray whales trapped by ice in Barrow, Alaska. \u00a0 MLML Director Jim Harvey played a significant role in the 1988 rescue. \u00a0For his behind-the-scenes story and pictures, and a whale crisis with a happy ending, take a look at this recent blog post: ‘Big Miracle: A Whale of a Story from Operation Breakthrough<\/a>.”<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

His story was also featured in<\/em> The Salinas Californian: \u00a0http:\/\/www.thecalifornian.com\/article\/20120211\/NEWS01\/202110317<\/a><\/p>\n

and the SJSU Today Blog:<\/em> \u00a0http:\/\/blogs.sjsu.edu\/today\/2012\/moss-landing-marine-labs-interim-director-played-part-in-real-big-miracle\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Brynn Hooton-Kaufman It started as any good weekend day might.\u00a0 A good cup of coffee, a good book, and a view of the bay.\u00a0 I like to park my car looking out over the tidepools at Asilomar and read, letting the crashing waves add interesting sound effects to whatever scene is playing out in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":291,"featured_media":5368,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drop-inblog"],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"MLML Student Life","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/291"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5366"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21520,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5366\/revisions\/21520"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}