Where are the resident orca whales in WA? Researchers mark 100 days without J-pod in the Salish Sea
Washington's whale watchers used to be able to observe the state's three resident orca pods on a near daily basis in the Salish Sea during the peak spring and summer months. But now, the resident whales are becoming an increasingly rare sight.
One of the resident orca pods, the J-pod, haven't been documented in the Salish Sea for over 100 days. While the K pod made a brief visit to the western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca on July 1, they have also been largely absent from the waters of the Salish Sea since February along with the L pod.
The explanation for their absence? Lack of food as the region's Chinook salmon runs have been depleted. While the Salish Sea used to be their core summer habitat, they are now being spotted off the outer coast of British Columbia and Washington, where chances of finding prey are better.
"For the first time since Orca Survey began in 1976, we have gone 100 days without the most ‘resident’ of the three pods in our waters during the peak season," explained Dr. Michael Weiss, a biologist with the Center for Whale Research. "This is a sure sign of dire, drastic changes in the Salish Sea and Fraser River ecosystems."
https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/j-pod-orca-whales-absent-from-salish-sea-100-days-16333799.php
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