State commission rejects petition to limit killing of wolves
A petition that called for new rules to limit when the state can kill endangered wolves that prey on livestock was rejected Friday by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
A petition that called for new rules to limit when the state can kill endangered wolves that prey on livestock was rejected Friday by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
WWF report: Pandemics like COVID-19 are the result of humanity’s destruction of nature
COVID-19, as well as many other pandemics, are the result of humanity’s destruction of nature, according to a report from the World Wildlife Fund.
COVID-19, as well as many other pandemics, are the result of humanity’s destruction of nature, according to a report from the World Wildlife Fund.
Another dead Asian giant hornet found in Whatcom County
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- An Asian giant hornet found on a Bellingham porch is the second confirmed sighting in Washington state this year.A resident found it this week, took a photo and properly reported the honeybee killer to the state Department of Agriculture.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- An Asian giant hornet found on a Bellingham porch is the second confirmed sighting in Washington state this year.A resident found it this week, took a photo and properly reported the honeybee killer to the state Department of Agriculture.
Extremely rare fish with gigantic eyes washes ashore near Port Angeles
During the lowest tide of the year, a paddleboarder made a rare discovery in Salt Creek, west of Port Angeles on Sunday."A gentleman on his paddleboard flags us down and goes, 'Hey, are you guys biologists?
During the lowest tide of the year, a paddleboarder made a rare discovery in Salt Creek, west of Port Angeles on Sunday."A gentleman on his paddleboard flags us down and goes, 'Hey, are you guys biologists?
Dead Asian Giant Hornet found in Custer is the first confirmed sighting this year
CUSTER, Wash. -- A dead Asian Giant Hornet found in Whatcom County is the first confirmed sighting of the honeybee killer this year.
CUSTER, Wash. -- A dead Asian Giant Hornet found in Whatcom County is the first confirmed sighting of the honeybee killer this year.
Another endangered southern resident orca missing and feared dead, scientists say
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- Scientists worry another endangered Southern Resident killer whale may be dead.The orca whale known as L41 was not seen in an encounter with his pod on Jan. 24, scientists with the Center for Whale Research said.He hasn't been spotted by the group since August, and because of his advanced age, scientists worry he may be dead."Given his age and that he looked a little thin in our January 2019 encounter, we fear he may be gone and consider him missing unless he shows up unexpectedly in an upcoming encounter," scientists with CWR said.
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- Scientists worry another endangered Southern Resident killer whale may be dead.The orca whale known as L41 was not seen in an encounter with his pod on Jan. 24, scientists with the Center for Whale Research said.He hasn't been spotted by the group since August, and because of his advanced age, scientists worry he may be dead."Given his age and that he looked a little thin in our January 2019 encounter, we fear he may be gone and consider him missing unless he shows up unexpectedly in an upcoming encounter," scientists with CWR said.
Southern resident orcas swim by West Seattle, giving residents a show
SEATTLE -- It was a sight to see in the Puget Sound today and dozens of people rushed to the shores of West Seattle hoping for a peek.
SEATTLE -- It was a sight to see in the Puget Sound today and dozens of people rushed to the shores of West Seattle hoping for a peek.
Grandmother orcas are critical to the survival of their grandkids
SEATTLE -- They say it takes a village to raise a child, and parents know how helpful an involved grandmother can be.
SEATTLE -- They say it takes a village to raise a child, and parents know how helpful an involved grandmother can be.
Car tab initiative could cut into orca recovery
SEATTLE -- The most visible statewide effort to save the southern resident orcas from extinction has officially sunset while a dark cloud looms.
SEATTLE -- The most visible statewide effort to save the southern resident orcas from extinction has officially sunset while a dark cloud looms.
Drone footage offers scientists new perspective in understanding killer whale behavior
SEATTLE - Drone technology is now offering scientists a new perspective on killer whale behavior and help endangered southern residents.Scientists at the University of British Columbia are using aerial drones to get a rare glimpse at the whale's eating habits while underwater.The footage will help them determine if endangered southern residents are getting enough Chinook salmon to meet nutritional needs.Researchers say comparing northern residents to southern residents is an important step to understanding foraging habits.“We’re studying northern residents, that unlike southern, appear to be healthy, generally better body condition, a larger population size,” researcher Sarah Fortune explained. “And we're looking at their feeding behavior and the prey that they have available in habitats, and we're comparing that to the smaller population of southern residents that show poor body condition.”This is the first time researchers are using drones to record behavior and prey fields at the same time.
SEATTLE - Drone technology is now offering scientists a new perspective on killer whale behavior and help endangered southern residents.Scientists at the University of British Columbia are using aerial drones to get a rare glimpse at the whale's eating habits while underwater.The footage will help them determine if endangered southern residents are getting enough Chinook salmon to meet nutritional needs.Researchers say comparing northern residents to southern residents is an important step to understanding foraging habits.“We’re studying northern residents, that unlike southern, appear to be healthy, generally better body condition, a larger population size,” researcher Sarah Fortune explained. “And we're looking at their feeding behavior and the prey that they have available in habitats, and we're comparing that to the smaller population of southern residents that show poor body condition.”This is the first time researchers are using drones to record behavior and prey fields at the same time.
Task force's final word on saving the southern resident orcas
To view the draft report, click here.
To view the draft report, click here.
Ferries slowing down to save endangered orcas
PUGET SOUND, Wash. -- Some ferry trips across the Puget Sound could take a little longer than usual but it's for a good cause: They're slowing down and steering clear of whales in the water.Responsible for the most sailings by a single industry in the Puget Sound, there's no denying the noise impact Washington State ferries have on the endangered southern resident orcas.
PUGET SOUND, Wash. -- Some ferry trips across the Puget Sound could take a little longer than usual but it's for a good cause: They're slowing down and steering clear of whales in the water.Responsible for the most sailings by a single industry in the Puget Sound, there's no denying the noise impact Washington State ferries have on the endangered southern resident orcas.
Tracking whales from the ferry? There's an app for that
SEATTLE -- New technology could help ships and ferries navigate around whales in Washington, reducing the chances of a deadly ship strike.This week, Washington State Ferries will be the first to use the WhaleReport Alert System throughout Puget Sound, which will alert captains to credible whale sightings in the area.Vessels are one of the main threats to the critically endangered southern resident orcas, both in terms of disturbance and the potential for a catastrophic ship strike.In 2016, an 18-year-old orca male known as DoubeStuf, or J34, died from blunt force trauma injuries due to a ship strike, according to the necropsy.This summer, a ferry hit and likely killed a young humpback whale in Elliott Bay.
SEATTLE -- New technology could help ships and ferries navigate around whales in Washington, reducing the chances of a deadly ship strike.This week, Washington State Ferries will be the first to use the WhaleReport Alert System throughout Puget Sound, which will alert captains to credible whale sightings in the area.Vessels are one of the main threats to the critically endangered southern resident orcas, both in terms of disturbance and the potential for a catastrophic ship strike.In 2016, an 18-year-old orca male known as DoubeStuf, or J34, died from blunt force trauma injuries due to a ship strike, according to the necropsy.This summer, a ferry hit and likely killed a young humpback whale in Elliott Bay.
Feds propose major habitat protections for endangered southern resident orcas
U.S. protections for the waters that a group of endangered orcas call home could soon expand beyond the Seattle area to encompass much of the West Coast.
U.S. protections for the waters that a group of endangered orcas call home could soon expand beyond the Seattle area to encompass much of the West Coast.
Orca task force to write blueprint to save dying species
PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- The endangered southern resident orcas are still in critical condition despite statewide efforts to save them.
PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- The endangered southern resident orcas are still in critical condition despite statewide efforts to save them.
New lawsuit seeks protection zone for southern resident orcas
SEATTLE -- A new U.S. lawsuit filed Monday seeks to establish a whale protection zone for endangered orcas in the Pacific Northwest.The Center for Biological Diversity and the Orca Relief Citizens' Alliance sued NOAA Fisheries in U.S. District Court in Seattle, saying the agency has failed to act on a petition it filed in 2016.The petition sought to bar vessels from a 10- to 12-square-mile (26- to 31-square-kilometer) area west of San Juan Island where the orcas, called southern resident killer whales, feed from April through September each year.
SEATTLE -- A new U.S. lawsuit filed Monday seeks to establish a whale protection zone for endangered orcas in the Pacific Northwest.The Center for Biological Diversity and the Orca Relief Citizens' Alliance sued NOAA Fisheries in U.S. District Court in Seattle, saying the agency has failed to act on a petition it filed in 2016.The petition sought to bar vessels from a 10- to 12-square-mile (26- to 31-square-kilometer) area west of San Juan Island where the orcas, called southern resident killer whales, feed from April through September each year.
Endangered resident orcas return to inland waters after long absence
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. -- A sight for sore eyes, the southern resident orcas appeared through the fog Thursday morning on the west side of San Juan Island.It's been 40 days since the endangered orcas were last seen in inland waters.
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. -- A sight for sore eyes, the southern resident orcas appeared through the fog Thursday morning on the west side of San Juan Island.It's been 40 days since the endangered orcas were last seen in inland waters.
Both orca babies alive, all 3 southern resident pods spotted
SEATTLE (AP) — Researchers have documented that both babies in the southern resident killer whale pods are still alive.The Seattle Times reports researchers with the Center for Whale Research, which tracks the southern resident population, photographed both babies Sunday, alive and seemingly well.That was welcome news in a population of endangered orcas that dropped to just 73 this month, with three adults missing and presumed dead.
SEATTLE (AP) — Researchers have documented that both babies in the southern resident killer whale pods are still alive.The Seattle Times reports researchers with the Center for Whale Research, which tracks the southern resident population, photographed both babies Sunday, alive and seemingly well.That was welcome news in a population of endangered orcas that dropped to just 73 this month, with three adults missing and presumed dead.