* Size and Strength: Grey whales are about 40-50 feet long and can weigh up to 40 tons. This makes them difficult to prey upon.
* Defensive Abilities: They have powerful tails that they can use to strike, and they are known to be aggressive when threatened.
* Deep Dives: When threatened, grey whales can dive deep into the ocean, where predators have trouble following.
While there are no confirmed cases of adult grey whales being preyed upon in the wild, there are a few potential threats:
* Orcas (Killer Whales): Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family and are known to prey on a variety of marine mammals, including grey whales. However, these encounters are rare and usually involve calves or sick/weakened adults.
* Great White Sharks: Great white sharks are powerful predators, but their size is typically smaller than grey whales, making them less likely to successfully hunt adults. There have been some reports of shark attacks on grey whale calves.
It's important to note that the most significant threat to grey whales is human activity, including habitat loss, pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear.