The county continues to be emotionally moved by the two gray whales — a mother and a calf — who spent some time in the Klamath River last year. On Monday, Humboldt State’s Dawn Goley and the many agencies involved will hold a public forum on the attempts to rescue the whale, which in the mother’s case were ultimately unsuccessful.

The forum will take place at the Yurok Tribe headquarters, up in Klamath.

Previously: Klamath Whale: A Scientist’s View

HSU press release:

Humboldt State University Zoology Professor Dawn Goley will join with colleagues from the Yurok Tribe and a host of other agencies on Monday, Feb. 13 in a detailed backgrounder on last summer’s Klamath River gray whale saga.  

The debriefing will be presented at the Yurok Tribe’s headquarters in Klamath, CA from 6-7:30 p.m. and will address the biological, cultural and veterinary aspects of the multi-agency response.

“For those interested in the details of what happened during the gray whales’ stay, this will be a very informative meeting,” Goley said. “Those who attend will also have an opportunity to meet and talk with the diverse and dedicated team who worked with the cetaceans.”

The Humboldt State University Marine Mammal Education and Research Program, the Yurok Tribe, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the Marine Mammal Center partnered in a coordinated response to monitor the health of the whales, encourage them to return to the sea and to maintain their safety and that of observers. 

The gray whale cow is believed to have died from complications associated with its extended stay in fresh water. The calf left the river in late July, its fate unknown.

Yurok Tribe Headquarters are located at 190 Klamath Boulevard, just off U.S. Highway 101 in Klamath. Details are available from Professor Goley at 707/826-4168 and atpdg1@humboldt.edu.