Mammals Like Us! Click on a picture to see a bigger one. Whales are mammals because . . . They give birth to live young (rather than laying eggs). The babies feed on mother's milk. Did you notice that mom and her baby stick close together? Baby gray whales depend on mom for a long time — much like human babies do! A calf spends most of its time swimming alongside its mother. Mom lends a hand (really, a fin!) when the baby needs it to rest on. In the middle picture, the baby that had been resting on mom just slid off her back! The calves nurse for around 6-8 months and drink up to 50 gallons of milk each day! The milk contains so much fat that the calves can gain more than 60 pounds a day. How do you think this helps them during their cold trip north? Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2024 Journey North. All rights reserved.