Gray Whales for Kids Gray Whale Home

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?