'Yeah, there were tears': Crew that followed orca's 'tour of grief' still reeling
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- It’s a distressing story that captured the attention of people far beyond the Northwest.
Group sues Trump administration to expand protected orca habitat along West Coast
An environmental group sued President Donald Trump's administration Thursday to make officials move more quickly to protect the Pacific Northwest's endangered orcas.
NOAA not sure if starving orca J50 ate salmon provided during trial feeding
Whale researchers working to save a sick and starving 3-year-old southern resident orca released live salmon into waters in front of the free-swimming killer whale on Sunday.
Mother orca ends 'tour of grief' after 17 days; spotted feeding and frolicking
Researchers say an endangered killer whale that drew international attention as she carried her dead calf on her head for more than two weeks is finally back to feeding and frolicking with her pod.
Orca mother carries dead calf for 17th day as it's 'starting to come apart'
Ken Balcomb with the Center for Whale Research said the southern resident orca J35 was spotted Thursday in the Strait of Juan de Fuca off the south shore of Vancouver Island. She was still holding her dead calf, marking day 17 of her "tour of grief."
Weather may prevent NOAA, Canada from medicating sick and starving orca
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- Rougher weather off the coast of Washington could hinder efforts to medicate a sick and starving southern resident killer whale.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, have the authority to administer antibiotics to the sick and starving 3-year-old orca known as J50.
Starving orca J50 finally spotted alive; emergency action could start Wednesday
A sick and starving orca that had been off the radar since last week was spotted near the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Tuesday evening.Michael Milstein with NOAA Fisheries said J50 was seen with her mother, J16, which is a good sign.Earlier Tuesday, federal officials had said they received legal permission to move forward with the treatment J50.
Orca mother still carrying dead calf, marking 16th day of 'tour of grief'
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- A southern resident orca mother is still carrying her dead and decomposing calf, more than two weeks after she was first spotted holding on to her offspring.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told Q13 News the department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada spotted the orca carrying the calf Wednesday near the tip of the Olympic Peninsula.
Feds granted permission to give antibiotics to sick, emaciated orca J50 at sea
Federal authorities on Tuesday said they received legal permission to move forward with the treatment of a sick and starving 4-year-old southern resident orca.
Starving, sick orca not spotted since last week as NOAA readies unprecedented action
A starving and sick 4-year-old southern resident orca hasn't been spotted since last week, just as an unprecedented federal government plan to feed her live salmon awaits final approval.
King County boat joins emergency effort to save emaciated orca J50
King County’s research vessel, SoundGuardian, has joined an emergency mission to help save the endangered southern resident orca population by bringing them food.
Feds weigh emergency plan to feed emaciated orca J50 at sea if needed to try to save its life
The federal government is assessing the health of the emaciated southern resident orca J50 and evaluating whether it should try an emergency plan to feed the killer whale live Chinook salmon dosed with medicine at sea, a NOAA official said Thursday night.
Researchers hope case of grieving orca mother will push people to help save species
SEATTLE -- Whale researchers hope more people will focus on trying save the endangered southern resident killer whales after all the attention generated by the heartbreaking case of a grieving mother orca carrying her dead calf for more than a week.Thursday marked the 10th day the orca whale J35, known as Tahlequah, has been seen by researchers carrying the body of her dead calf.“It’s heartbreaking, it’s really hard for us to watch,” said Lynne Barre, the recovery coordinator for endangered southern resident killer whales for NOAA Fisheries.She’s worked with these animals for 15 years and says what is happening with Tahlequah is something she has never seen.“Moms carry those animals around for a little bit, but this is the longest I’m aware of for southern residents,” said Barre.Hundreds of people have commented on Q13 News’ Facebook page about how heartbreaking it is to watch this mother whale swimming through the water as she holds up her dead calf.“In this case we’re seeing it every day, and we’re seeing real quantifiable grief and it’s traumatic,” said Michael Harris, the former executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association.He says he’s spent years getting to know these whale pods and he says they are disappearing from our waters.“We are orca country.
Orca mother on 'tour of grief' carries dead calf for 10th straight day
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- A southern resident orca mother carried her dead calf in the waters off Washington's coast for a 10th straight day Thursday, in what researchers are calling a "tour of grief."Affiliates of the Center for Whale Research spotted J35 - known as Tahlequah - carrying her dead calf in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, according to Taylor Shedd of Soundwatch.
Bill allowing more sea lions to be killed clears key hurdle
A bill that would make it easier to kill sea lions that gobble endangered salmon in the Columbia River has cleared a key committee in the U.S. Senate.
Orca carries dead calf - now decomposing - for 'unprecedented' ninth straight day
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- Researchers are calling it a "tour of grief." They're also calling it unprecedented.The female southern resident orca known as J35 was spotted Wednesday carrying her dead calf in an apparent sign of grieving, marking the ninth straight day she has done so.Researchers said rough seas Tuesday and Wednesday made it hard to confirm whether or not she was carrying her dead offspring.
Grieving mother orca carries dead calf for seventh straight day
A female southern resident orca carried its dead calf on its head for the seventh straight day, in an apparent sign of grieving.
'Pathogens' found in starving orca's fecal samples; no update on dead calf
Microorganisms that can cause disease have been found in the fecal samples of a starving 4-year-old southern resident orca, raising the possibility that the struggling mammal may be diseased as well as malnourished.
Orca task force promises bold actions to save dying species, but will it deliver?
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. -- Some say a task force is all talk, but if action is not taken soon, this will be the last generation of southern resident killer whales.Nearly four dozen stakeholders make up Gov.