Why 2021 was a whale of a year for orca sightings Last year was a banner year for whale watching in Washington state. That is as long as you weren't looking for the region's resident endangered orcas. John Ryan Katie Campbell
The hopeful orca study, and the backlash that ensued ‘They basically said we looked in one spot in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and we saw a whole lot of Chinook. Their point was, everyone would have thought that where the southern residents live you'd see an empty pantry.’ Kim Malcolm Andy Hurst
Orcultural exchange: Orcas briefly visit Salish Sea after long absence The Orca Behavior Institute says at least 50 whales from the J, K and L pods were seen heading south toward Eagle Point. But one is now presumed dead. Katie Campbell Angela King Esmy Jimenez
The town that broke Canada’s heat record has burned to the ground Washington state might feel the effects of British Columbia’s crushing heat and fires in the water as well as in the air. John Ryan
Look! It's a bouncing baby orca in Puget Sound At eight and a half feet long, it’s not your average baby. John Ryan
Where there’s a whale, there’s a way. Keeping field science going in a pandemic Whale researchers reengineer their work to keep critical science going despite the life-or-death need for humans to avoid each other. John Ryan
Seattle Now: Baby orca! It's been a tough week, but there's at least one piece of news to celebrate: Orca mom J35, or Tahlequah, had her calf. Patricia Murphy Clare McGrane
Rare treat: endangered orcas return to home waters in search of scarce salmon After six weeks away from its usual summer splashing grounds, the southern resident killer whales’ J pod returned en masse to the west side of San Juan Island Tuesday morning. John Ryan
Pandemic cabin fever + boat sales = harassed orcas Off the west side of San Juan Island, Deborah Giles grabbed her boat’s bright yellow research flag and started waving it at a small boat chopping through the waves. John Ryan