Gray whales are tough despite past near extinction

Gray whales reach nearly 50 feet.

Gray whales prefer chilly waters in the North Pacific.

Gray whales migrate about 10,000 miles round-trip annually.

Gray whales have a mottled gray body with white scars.

Gray whales have no dorsal fin but a series of knuckles.

Gray whales were once called "devil fish" for their fighting.

Gray whales reach 49 feet and weigh 90,000 pounds.

Gray whales specialize in feeding on tiny crustaceans called amphipods.

Warming Arctic waters reduce amphipod numbers, causing starvation.

Gray whales migrate from Mexico to feeding grounds in Alaska.

Most dead gray whales found in spring are emaciated with little fat.

The western gray whale population numbers fewer than 300 individuals.

Gray whales use lagoons on Baja California's coast to breed.

Gray whales can grow nearly 50 feet long.