July 21, 2021 King 5 This is the longest absence of a “resident” pod from the Salish Sea since the Orca Survey began in 1976.
Navy Growler Jet Noise Loud Enough to Reach Orca Pods Even 100 Feet Underwater, New Research Shows
December 5, 2020 By Lynda V. Mapes The Seattle Times
On the beaches, in the deepest reaches of the backcountry — even nearly 100 feet underwater — the noise of Navy Growler training jets is unescapable for people and even endangered southern resident orcas, new scientific research shows.
Researchers Attach Cameras to Pacific Northwest Orcas, Revealing a Marvelous Underwater World
September 19, 2020 By Lynda V. Mapes The Seattle Times
For nearly a month the team has been at sea, marveling at the prowess of southern and northern resident killer whales as they follow the orcas’ foraging rounds, using a drone and stick-on cameras to record the daily lives of orcas, even underwater.
Chinook Salmon Decimated, Southern Resident Orcas Are Residents No More
July 3, 2020 By Simone Del Rosario Q13Fox
Summer is synonymous with seeing whales in the Pacific Northwest, but visits from the locally-beloved southern resident orcas are becoming few and far between. Experts say the dramatic absence is likely directly tied to tanking salmon returns in the Fraser River, which were historically abundant.
Killer Whales’ Cultural Bottleneck
June 3, 2020 By Claudia Geib Hakai Magazine
A new paper suggests killer whales’ cultures may be driving down their genetic diversity—but not all researchers agree.