# Why do Whales Beach?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-beach/169634>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 18, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-beach/169634 "2003-04-18T20:40:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-beach/169634/1 "2003-04-18T20:40:20Z")

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A fairly straightforward question:

Why do whales beach themselves?

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**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-beach/169634/2 "2003-04-18T20:51:44Z")

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Some people think it is caused by noise pollution. Whales are very sensitive to sounds and humans keep messing around with things such as sonar.

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-beach/169634/3 "2003-04-19T19:04:37Z")

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[Some theories here.](http://www.deafwhale.com/stranding/theories.html)

I’ve heard also, **kniz** , theories around regarding electro-magnetic pollution generated by our increasing technology. The sad part is: no one knows for sure. ☹

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**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-beach/169634/4 "2003-04-19T19:09:03Z")

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Maybe they’re trying to rush the beach line and demand regime change?

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**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-beach/169634/5 "2003-04-19T22:54:29Z")

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Thanks for the link, Ice Wolf, lots of interesting info. From that site:  
6. Recently M. Walsh, et al (whale experts from Sea World) have advanced the theory that mass strandings are the results of some aggressive pathogen that has infected the entire pod days or weeks before the stranding (Reynolds & Odell 1991). They are not too confident in their effort, adding a qualifier: “Without knowledge of the time frame involved or how many animals may have already died at sea, it is unlikely that the true cause of many strandings will be established.” They also state, “It should be assumed that some or all members of the pod are ill until proven otherwise.”  
Yes, the whales are ill and infected with many pathogens, but a disease affecting the entire pod would be far more devastating on the very young, yet the nursing members of the pod are usually the most healthy and the ones that most often survive the stranding."

I’m no expert, but this thought occurs: perhaps after a long term bout with illness, the navigational capabilities of whales are damaged, so they are more likely to run aground. The young, not having the long-term exposure and damage, might be more likely to recover after separation from the pod.