San Juan orcas feast in South Sound waters

JOHN DODGE, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published October 25, 2001

THURSTON COUNTY -- A large group of orca whales normally found in the San Juan Islands paid a visit to South Sound on Wednesday.

As many as 60 of the black and white killer whales prowled the waters between Ketron and Anderson islands Wednesday morning, said Greg Combs, a state Department of Health environmental specialist who was in the area taking water quality samples.

One large adult orca leaped out of the water --breached -- about 50 feet from his boat.

"I feel just uncommonly fortunate," Combs said of the close encounter with the mighty marine mammal.

Two and perhaps a portion of a third of three extended families known as the J, K and L pods are in South Sound, said Ken Balcomb, director of the Center for Whale Research in the San Juan Islands.

"Chasing chum salmon -- that's my guess of why they're there," Balcomb said.

Members of the L pod were last seen Oct. 17 in the San Juan Islands. Wednesday's orca sightings were the first reported on the Whale Hotline since then.

Troubled whales

The three pods that comprise the southern resident orca whales are the subject of intense scrutiny these days. Their numbers have declined from 97 individuals in 1996 to 78 this year, according to the Center for Whale Research.

Prodded by conservation groups, the National Marine Fisheries Service agreed in August to launch a study to determine if the three pods are imperiled and deserving of listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. A decision is due by May.

On Wednesday, orcas were spotted in South Sound by several people in boats.

By early afternoon, commercial geoduck diver Casey Bakker saw a dozen or so orcas moving steadily along the shoreline near Devil's Head into Case Inlet.

Mike Zittel, owner of Zittel's Marina at Johnson Point, spotted two distinct groups totaling 20 to 25 whales.

Based on previous research, Balcomb predicted some or all of the orcas in South Sound could be spotted here feeding on chum salmon through November.

"They were behaving like they were herding and catching salmon," Combs said.

All three pods were last seen in South Sound in early January, apparently chasing the Nisqually River winter chum run -- the last salmon run to return to a Puget Sound river.

Marine mammal scientists suggest the orca population is on the decline for a number of reasons:

- A decline in salmon populations means less food is available for the killer whales. The J, K and L pods rely on salmon for about 90 percent of their diet, according to Center for Whale Research studies.

- As the top predator in the ocean, orcas are susceptible to toxic substances that accumulate in greater concentrations as they move up the food chain.

- Noise, boat traffic and boat exhaust tied to commercial whale-watching activity in the San Juan Islands could be disturbing the whales, despite efforts by many in the whale-watching business to maintain a respectful distance from the mighty creatures.

- The southern resident population is short on viable breeding adults, in part due to the large number of whales that were captured live for aquariums in the 1960s and 1970s.

John Dodge covers the environment and energy for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5444.

Seen a whale?

If you spot a whale or marine mammal stranded in Puget Sound or the Washington coast, call the Whale Hotline at 800-562-8832.

On the web:

Center for Biological Diversity: Killer Whale

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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