Whale Lice and Barnacles Barnacles are a fact of life for gray
whales; there are hundreds of pounds of barnacles on gray
whales. These barnacles attach themselves to gray whales in the
lagoons when the whales are born and are on gray whales for as
long as they are alive. Barnacles depigment the skin when they
attach themselves to the whale, when the barnacles die and fall
off they leave a small round white circle or ring. Barnacle
scars create a unique pattern on each whale, which can help in
identifying the gray whale. Gray whales also have whale lice
which are not true parasites. They feed on the skin and damaged
tissue actually helping the whales. The lice gather around open
wounds or scars of the whale. These lice can spread from mother
whales to their calves during birth, and nursing. Whale lice are
orange colored patches around the barnacles and in crevices of
the whale’s body such as creases and the mouth line. To get rid
of the whale lice, whales rub themselves along the sea bottom or
breach. Gray wha