A pod of orca whales has been observed frolicking in Commencement Bay near Tacoma. Video footage recorded by Colleen Garland showcases the whales close to the shore.
In the waters of western Washington, three distinct types of orcas can be found: offshore orcas, transient or Bigg’s orcas, and the endangered Southern Residents. While it remains uncertain which species were present in Commencement Bay, it is likely that they were not Southern Residents.
“Today marks 8 weeks since our last confirmed report of Southern Residents in the inland waters of the Salish Sea,” stated the Orca Behavior Institute (OBI). “Over the last 10-15 years, the whales’ travel patterns have changed.”
As Southern Resident orcas exclusively feed on salmon, various environmental factors significantly influence their ability to find food. The OBI noted that in previous instances of absence, conditions like “summer heat domes” and elevated temperatures adversely affected young salmon populations.
The institute believes that most, if not all, of the Southern Residents are currently located off the western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. In 2021, the J-Pod of Southern Resident orcas was notably absent from the Salish Sea for nearly four months, a situation that OBI hopes to avoid repeating. “We can only hope we don’t have to wait that long again,” the organization remarked.