Did you know that each of the lagoons and locations used by gray whales in Baja California Sur, such as Guerrero Negro, Ojo de Liebre, Adolfo López Mateos, Bahía Magdalena, and Bahía Almejas, has its own trends of individuals and behaviors?There are bays like Bahía Almejas, where more juveniles or non-reproductive whales gather, socializing, feeding, surfing, and spinning in the waves and currents, performing what is called a "spy hop," which is when the whale goes vertical and only lifts its head out of the water to observe its surroundings.This year has seen little mating and reproduction; gray whales have just gone through one of the longest unusual mortality events, during which they spent at least three years eating very little. It is important to avoid stressing them further!

However, young gray whale individuals and some adult whales can be found in the lagoons socializing. It should be noted that not all whales are friendly, and encounters should never be forced, nor should whales be coerced or harassed into being "friendly."We must admire, appreciate, and respect all their behaviors, understanding that each lagoon has unique behaviors depending on the types of individuals we encounter. Remember: Never harass the whales.The sighting of gray whales does not solely imply "touching" the whale, but rather understanding why they come to these waters, how they utilize them, and the necessity of protecting these species both locally and globally.