New calf J59 born to endangered southern resident orcas

A new calf was born to J pod of the southern resident orcas, an endangered population of killer whales.

Russian invasion changes crucial PNW salmon project plans

Russia’s attack on Ukraine is having ripple effects across the world, including a multi-million dollar salmon research project that scientists hope will unlock key answers for the Pacific Northwest.

Questions about endangered orca’s health could renew fight to return her to Puget Sound

It’s been decades since Tokitae was taken from Puget Sound. The endangered orca, the sole survivor of the 1970 captures in Penn Cove, currently lives at the Miami Seaquarium. For the past several decades Lummi Nation, scientists and animal activists have tried to bring her home.

Scientists deploy buoy in Puget Sound to measure noise, risks to orcas

Scientists aboard the King County research vessel ‘SoundGuardian’ Tuesday deployed a buoy that will monitor underwater noise in Puget Sound – which poses risks to our southern resident orca population.

Lummi Nation declares 'disaster' after removing over 70K invasive crab species

The Lummi Indian Business Council has passed a resolution last week declaring a disaster as they deal with an invasive grab species in the Lummi Sea Pond, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. 

Southern Resident grandmother orca dead

The Center for Whale Research has declared an orca in one of the Puget Sound’s endangered Southern Resident killer whale pods dead.

Officials urge boaters to steer clear of 3 pregnant Orcas

Three endangered Southern Resident killer whales living near the Washington coast are pregnant, prompting boating regulations in the state, officials said on Monday.

Baby whale in J-Pod unwell, rule issued to keep boaters away

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued an emergency rule ordering commercial whale watch tours to stay farther away from an unwell baby orca to help her survive.

New federal rule protects southern resident orcas down coast

A federal rule that went into effect July 30 expands protected habitat for the endangered southern resident orcas down the West Coast.

Oldest male in Southern Resident orca KPod presumed dead

An orca is presumed dead after being found in distress last week in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a body of water that separates Washington state from Canada, officials said.

Renovations will let salmon species return to Lunds Gulch in Edmonds

New renovations will allow threatened salmon species to return to Lunds Gulch at Meadowdale Beach Park in Edmonds, Washington.

Dam operator fined $501K for polluting Puyallup River

The Washington Department of Ecology has fined dam operator Electron Hydro, LLC, $501,000 for discharging discarded plastic field turf into the Puyallup River.

Feds plan to curtail nontribal salmon fishing off Washington coast to help orcas

Federal officials are planning to curtail nontribal salmon fishing along the West Coast in especially bad years to help the Northwest’s endangered killer whales.

Friday Harbor whale watchers treated to sights of 4 whale species on Mother's Day trip

For professional whale watchers, hitting a "Grand Slam" is a rare treat that doesn’t happen often, but a group was treated to such an event on Mother's Day in Friday Harbor.

Southern resident orca pod in best condition in decade

On this Mother’s Day, there is some cause for cautious optimism for some of the most famous mothers in our region, on whom the future of this fragile population of orcas depends.

Feds start review of endangered Southern Resident orcas

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service says it’s starting a five-year status review of the Southern Resident orcas.

Chainsaw the Orca spotted near San Juan Islands
video

The killer whale is called Chainsaw because his dorsal fin has several large notches in the top third of his fin that gives the appearance of a large saw blade.