On Saturday, the endangered J pod made a stop in Puget Sound for the first time since April.
The Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network confirmed the Southern Resident orca pod was seen between Whidbey Island and the Kitsap Peninsula.
“Puget Sound is a key foraging area for Southern Residents in the fall. They regularly travel into this region pursuing Chum salmon, which make up a large majority of their diet during the fall and early winter,” said Dr. Michael Weiss, Research Director at the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island. “Southern Resident orca diets consist almost entirely of Chinook and Chum salmon, and declines in salmon runs over past decades are a key factor in the population’s endangered status.”
“Orca Network celebrates October as “Orca Salmon Month” to raise awareness of the importance of the connection between the return of the salmon and the health of our endangered Southern Resident orcas,” said Orca Network President Howard Garrett.
The Bigg’s orca population, which frequents the Puget Sound, is estimated to be at least 500 and the Southern Residents are only 73.