Orca Pod-Cast Episode 1: The Last Generation of Southern Resident Orcas?
We begin with a mother orca's 17-day "tour of grief." How J35's display captured the attention of the world as she pushed her dead calf for more than 1,000 miles. And how Q13 News' Simone Del Rosario began diving deeper into the plight of the iconic killer whales.
We begin with a mother orca's 17-day "tour of grief." How J35's display captured the attention of the world as she pushed her dead calf for more than 1,000 miles. And how Q13 News' Simone Del Rosario began diving deeper into the plight of the iconic killer whales.
Scientists: We can't save the southern resident orcas alone
Scientists are urging state legislators to take immediate action to save the southern resident orcas as four bills related to orca recovery make their way through the legislature.
Scientists are urging state legislators to take immediate action to save the southern resident orcas as four bills related to orca recovery make their way through the legislature.
Groups sue to restrict salmon fishing, help critically endangered Northwest orcas
Federal officials say they may restrict salmon fishing off the West Coast to help the Pacific Northwest's critically endangered killer whales, but two environmental groups are suing anyway to ensure it happens.
Federal officials say they may restrict salmon fishing off the West Coast to help the Pacific Northwest's critically endangered killer whales, but two environmental groups are suing anyway to ensure it happens.
'Lucky,' the newest southern resident orca calf, seen swimming off California coast
Good news for our endangered southern resident orcas! L124, or "Lucky," the calf born in late December, was captured on video swimming with the L pod off the coast of California.
Good news for our endangered southern resident orcas! L124, or "Lucky," the calf born in late December, was captured on video swimming with the L pod off the coast of California.
Whale watching industry defends viewing endangered southern resident orcas
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- It was billed as a “bold action” the state could take that would have an immediate impact on our struggling southern resident orcas, but it never gained support in the Legislature.This legislative session, Gov.
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- It was billed as a “bold action” the state could take that would have an immediate impact on our struggling southern resident orcas, but it never gained support in the Legislature.This legislative session, Gov.
Money, time in short supply to save southern resident orcas
LACEY, Wash. -- Time and money are in short supply in the race to save the region's endangered southern resident orcas.One year ago this month, Gov.
LACEY, Wash. -- Time and money are in short supply in the race to save the region's endangered southern resident orcas.One year ago this month, Gov.
Washington House, Senate pass bills limiting boat distance from endangered orcas
The Senate and House have each passed measures seeking to give the state's endangered orca population some space.
The Senate and House have each passed measures seeking to give the state's endangered orca population some space.
Bold proposals to save southern resident whales lose teeth in Legislature
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Some of the boldest actions proposed in the Legislature to save the southern resident orcas appear dead in the water.Bills to restrict whale watching and impose new regulations on the lucrative industry passed out of committees in both state houses Thursday.However, HB 1580 and SB 5577 were watered down from their original versions, stripping some of what was intended to protect the whales from boat noise in order to help the orcas find Chinook salmon.There are only 75 southern resident killer whales left.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Some of the boldest actions proposed in the Legislature to save the southern resident orcas appear dead in the water.Bills to restrict whale watching and impose new regulations on the lucrative industry passed out of committees in both state houses Thursday.However, HB 1580 and SB 5577 were watered down from their original versions, stripping some of what was intended to protect the whales from boat noise in order to help the orcas find Chinook salmon.There are only 75 southern resident killer whales left.
To help salmon migrate, state looks to spill more over dams
VANCOUVER, Wash. -- While federal officials consider breaching one or more dams in Washington to increase salmon survival, state officials are considering increasing spill over the dams to help more smolts survive in the meantime.If there is too little spill at hydrodams, more young, vulnerable salmon are sent down more dangerous turbines to get past them.
VANCOUVER, Wash. -- While federal officials consider breaching one or more dams in Washington to increase salmon survival, state officials are considering increasing spill over the dams to help more smolts survive in the meantime.If there is too little spill at hydrodams, more young, vulnerable salmon are sent down more dangerous turbines to get past them.
Study: Endangered orcas catch fish less than half their attempts
SEATTLE -- New research into the critically-endangered southern resident orcas shows that when they deep dive to catch salmon, they often come up empty.Lack of food is one of the leading threats to their survival.
SEATTLE -- New research into the critically-endangered southern resident orcas shows that when they deep dive to catch salmon, they often come up empty.Lack of food is one of the leading threats to their survival.
Bill would restrict whale watching on southern resident orcas
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A bill that would greatly restrict whale watching of endangered killer whales is making its way through the state capitol.House Bill 1580 is intended to increase the protection of the southern resident killer whale from boat noise, in order to help the whales find Chinook salmon.There are only 75 southern resident killer whales left.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A bill that would greatly restrict whale watching of endangered killer whales is making its way through the state capitol.House Bill 1580 is intended to increase the protection of the southern resident killer whale from boat noise, in order to help the whales find Chinook salmon.There are only 75 southern resident killer whales left.
Snake River spring chinook forecast grim
LEWISTON, Idaho -- A vital food source the struggling southern resident orcas depend on is predicted to be in short supply.An early forecast by fisheries managers in Idaho suggests a poor outlook for the upcoming chinook salmon season there.A group of federal, state and tribal fisheries managers is predicting that just over 48,000 spring chinook are expected to return to the mouth of the Snake River.
LEWISTON, Idaho -- A vital food source the struggling southern resident orcas depend on is predicted to be in short supply.An early forecast by fisheries managers in Idaho suggests a poor outlook for the upcoming chinook salmon season there.A group of federal, state and tribal fisheries managers is predicting that just over 48,000 spring chinook are expected to return to the mouth of the Snake River.
Non-federal employees plan to study health of sick orcas as shutdown continues
ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. -- A group of scientists not employed by the federal government is coming together to make sure the shutdown doesn't impact one of the state's most vulnerable species.Marine biologists, veterinarians and southern resident orca experts will assess the health conditions of J17 and K25 in the coming days.
ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. -- A group of scientists not employed by the federal government is coming together to make sure the shutdown doesn't impact one of the state's most vulnerable species.Marine biologists, veterinarians and southern resident orca experts will assess the health conditions of J17 and K25 in the coming days.
The orca recovery plans that could become state law
OLYMPIA -- After a year of task force meetings, it’s time to find out if the governor’s ambitious plans to save the endangered southern resident orcas will turn into state law.It’s in the hands of state lawmakers now as they introduced several bills in Olympia Wednesday.The legislation is based on several of the governor's orca task force recommendations.
OLYMPIA -- After a year of task force meetings, it’s time to find out if the governor’s ambitious plans to save the endangered southern resident orcas will turn into state law.It’s in the hands of state lawmakers now as they introduced several bills in Olympia Wednesday.The legislation is based on several of the governor's orca task force recommendations.
Scientists ID pink salmon as another possible threat to orcas
SEATTLE — Over the years, scientists have identified dams, pollution and vessel noise as causes of the troubling decline of the Pacific Northwest's resident killer whales.
SEATTLE — Over the years, scientists have identified dams, pollution and vessel noise as causes of the troubling decline of the Pacific Northwest's resident killer whales.
Government shutdown blocks emergency response for struggling orcas
SEATTLE -- The government shutdown could be keeping our critically endangered southern resident orcas from getting the help they need.Various groups took notice when prominent whale researcher Ken Balcomb announced at the turn of the new year that two of the whales, J17 and K25, were struggling and would likely be dead by summer.But when the Lummi Nation reached out to the federal government Wednesday to orchestrate an emergency response, the email bounced back because NOAA Fisheries employees are furloughed.The letter, signed by Lummi Nation secretary Lawrence Solomon, said, "We must act now if we are to save two of our ailing relatives in the Southern Resident Killer Whale population."Solomon wrote to NOAA Fisheries Kristin Wilkinson that the news of struggling J17 and K25 came at a challenging time because, "the current federal government shutdown has halted an urgently needed response to this situation."Organizations outside of the federal government can only work with the whales under federal permits.
SEATTLE -- The government shutdown could be keeping our critically endangered southern resident orcas from getting the help they need.Various groups took notice when prominent whale researcher Ken Balcomb announced at the turn of the new year that two of the whales, J17 and K25, were struggling and would likely be dead by summer.But when the Lummi Nation reached out to the federal government Wednesday to orchestrate an emergency response, the email bounced back because NOAA Fisheries employees are furloughed.The letter, signed by Lummi Nation secretary Lawrence Solomon, said, "We must act now if we are to save two of our ailing relatives in the Southern Resident Killer Whale population."Solomon wrote to NOAA Fisheries Kristin Wilkinson that the news of struggling J17 and K25 came at a challenging time because, "the current federal government shutdown has halted an urgently needed response to this situation."Organizations outside of the federal government can only work with the whales under federal permits.
New southern resident orca born, giving hope to critically endangered species
A new southern resident killer whale was spotted alongside its mother Friday, becoming the first calf born to the critically endangered species and seen alive since 2015.
A new southern resident killer whale was spotted alongside its mother Friday, becoming the first calf born to the critically endangered species and seen alive since 2015.
Individual treatment for ailing orcas? Veterinarians work on medical database
SAN JUAN ISLANDS, Wash. -- The world watched over the summer as a three-year-old orca calf wasted away.
SAN JUAN ISLANDS, Wash. -- The world watched over the summer as a three-year-old orca calf wasted away.
2 more Puget Sound orcas predicted to die by summer
The region's expert on the demographics of the critically endangered southern residents says two more orcas are ailing and probably will be dead by summer.
The region's expert on the demographics of the critically endangered southern residents says two more orcas are ailing and probably will be dead by summer.
Landmark deal between BPA, states and tribes could mean better salmon survival rates
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Federal, state and tribal groups have agreed to a landmark deal allowing for flexible water spillover on Columbia River and Snake River dams, a compromise partners hope will save salmon and manage costs.The deal calls for increased spillover at dams for certain times of the day and year.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Federal, state and tribal groups have agreed to a landmark deal allowing for flexible water spillover on Columbia River and Snake River dams, a compromise partners hope will save salmon and manage costs.The deal calls for increased spillover at dams for certain times of the day and year.