Pacific Whale Watch Association
@pacificwhalewatchassociation.com
A community of ecotourism professionals with a shared commitment to education, conservation, and responsible wildlife viewing in Washington state and British Columbia. 🐋
Happy Hump Day! 🐋 While many humans prepare for a feast tomorrow, local humpbacks have already been feasting for months. A female humpback whale like BCZ0345 "Victory" here eats ~765,000 kcals *per day* - that's 2,550 slices of pumpkin pie! 🥧
📷: Melisa Pinnow, San Juan Excursions
📷: Melisa Pinnow, San Juan Excursions
November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Happy Hump Day! 🐋 While many humans prepare for a feast tomorrow, local humpbacks have already been feasting for months. A female humpback whale like BCZ0345 "Victory" here eats ~765,000 kcals *per day* - that's 2,550 slices of pumpkin pie! 🥧
📷: Melisa Pinnow, San Juan Excursions
📷: Melisa Pinnow, San Juan Excursions
November 24, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Another entangled whale has been saved thanks to local experts. BCX1493 "Eugenia" was first reported as entangled near Nanaimo, BC last weekend. After intervention in Washington, we now believe she is swimming free. 🐋
cascadiaresearch.org/20251117mn_e...
cascadiaresearch.org/20251117mn_e...
140 feet of Fishing Gear Removed from Humpback Whale in the Strait of Juan de Fuca - https://cascadiaresearch.org
Fishing gear removed from an entangled humpback whale thanks to a rapid response by trained entanglement responders & a newly established cross-border protocol.
cascadiaresearch.org
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Another entangled whale has been saved thanks to local experts. BCX1493 "Eugenia" was first reported as entangled near Nanaimo, BC last weekend. After intervention in Washington, we now believe she is swimming free. 🐋
cascadiaresearch.org/20251117mn_e...
cascadiaresearch.org/20251117mn_e...
We're flipping that it's Friday! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
(Also, WHERE is that orca emoji we were promised!?!🤔🖤🤍🐬)
📷: Island Adventures Whale Watching
(Also, WHERE is that orca emoji we were promised!?!🤔🖤🤍🐬)
📷: Island Adventures Whale Watching
November 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
We're flipping that it's Friday! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
(Also, WHERE is that orca emoji we were promised!?!🤔🖤🤍🐬)
📷: Island Adventures Whale Watching
(Also, WHERE is that orca emoji we were promised!?!🤔🖤🤍🐬)
📷: Island Adventures Whale Watching
Social media has been BLEAK lately. In a hump day effort to cleanse your feed, we present this gorgeous shot of a chin-slapping humpback whale from captain/naturalist Sara Shimazu of @sjiwhalewatch.bsky.social on San Juan Island. 🐋
November 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Social media has been BLEAK lately. In a hump day effort to cleanse your feed, we present this gorgeous shot of a chin-slapping humpback whale from captain/naturalist Sara Shimazu of @sjiwhalewatch.bsky.social on San Juan Island. 🐋
With two prominent notches in his dorsal fin, 27-year-old Bigg's killer whale T49C "Neilson" is easy to recognize.
📷: Sam Wallace, Outer Island Excursions
📷: Sam Wallace, Outer Island Excursions
November 12, 2025 at 6:43 PM
With two prominent notches in his dorsal fin, 27-year-old Bigg's killer whale T49C "Neilson" is easy to recognize.
📷: Sam Wallace, Outer Island Excursions
📷: Sam Wallace, Outer Island Excursions
Bowhead whales can live to be more than 200 years old. A new study reveals their ability to repair damaged DNA, preventing cancer and other age-related illnesses.
www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/b...
www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/b...
Bowhead Whales Live Long Lives. Do They Hold the Key to Human Longevity?
A cold-activated gene that helps the mammals repair their DNA may also help humans live longer
www.smithsonianmag.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Bowhead whales can live to be more than 200 years old. A new study reveals their ability to repair damaged DNA, preventing cancer and other age-related illnesses.
www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/b...
www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/b...
On Saturday, Brooke Casanova of Puget Sound Express spotted BCX1805 "Volta" in the Salish Sea. As luck would have it, Brooke also saw Volta in February off Nayarit, Mexico on a tour with La Orca de Sayulita! Seeing a whale in both the breeding grounds *and* feeding grounds is a special treat. 🐋
November 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
On Saturday, Brooke Casanova of Puget Sound Express spotted BCX1805 "Volta" in the Salish Sea. As luck would have it, Brooke also saw Volta in February off Nayarit, Mexico on a tour with La Orca de Sayulita! Seeing a whale in both the breeding grounds *and* feeding grounds is a special treat. 🐋
After *very* stormy conditions yesterday, it's nice to have some sunshine today. This river otter seems to agree!
📷: Alli Montgomery, FRS Clipper
📷: Alli Montgomery, FRS Clipper
November 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
After *very* stormy conditions yesterday, it's nice to have some sunshine today. This river otter seems to agree!
📷: Alli Montgomery, FRS Clipper
📷: Alli Montgomery, FRS Clipper
Great news from @orcabehaviorinstitute.org - The daily Bigg's streak for 2025 is still alive for now (knock on wood)!
Here's our October Salish Sea orca sightings map! Did it feel like there were fewer orcas around this October? If you thought so, you were right! Sightings were down for both Bigg’s and Southern Resident killer whales vs Oct 2024.
Learn more here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
Learn more here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
November 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Great news from @orcabehaviorinstitute.org - The daily Bigg's streak for 2025 is still alive for now (knock on wood)!
Porpoises contain more calories per kg than seals or sea lions, so while they likely require more effort to catch, it's a good return on investment for Bigg's orcas. Here, matriarch T060 "Panthera" swallows an unfortunate harbour porpoise.
📷: Tomis Filipovic, @eaglewingtours.bsky.social
📷: Tomis Filipovic, @eaglewingtours.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Porpoises contain more calories per kg than seals or sea lions, so while they likely require more effort to catch, it's a good return on investment for Bigg's orcas. Here, matriarch T060 "Panthera" swallows an unfortunate harbour porpoise.
📷: Tomis Filipovic, @eaglewingtours.bsky.social
📷: Tomis Filipovic, @eaglewingtours.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM
DOUBLE TROUBLE!
T65A5 "Indy" (left) & T49A2 "Jude" (right) are both known for getting into mischief. For the last few days, the pair have been traveling together in the Salish Sea. Fingers crossed they don't get into (too much) trouble! 🤞😅
📷: Sam Murphy, Island Adventures
T65A5 "Indy" (left) & T49A2 "Jude" (right) are both known for getting into mischief. For the last few days, the pair have been traveling together in the Salish Sea. Fingers crossed they don't get into (too much) trouble! 🤞😅
📷: Sam Murphy, Island Adventures
October 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
DOUBLE TROUBLE!
T65A5 "Indy" (left) & T49A2 "Jude" (right) are both known for getting into mischief. For the last few days, the pair have been traveling together in the Salish Sea. Fingers crossed they don't get into (too much) trouble! 🤞😅
📷: Sam Murphy, Island Adventures
T65A5 "Indy" (left) & T49A2 "Jude" (right) are both known for getting into mischief. For the last few days, the pair have been traveling together in the Salish Sea. Fingers crossed they don't get into (too much) trouble! 🤞😅
📷: Sam Murphy, Island Adventures
Only a few days left! Be sure to vote every day now through October 19 to help the team at Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society get a new rescue vehicle! 🦦🦭
Vote here: www.landrover.ca/en/experienc...
Vote here: www.landrover.ca/en/experienc...
October 16, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Only a few days left! Be sure to vote every day now through October 19 to help the team at Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society get a new rescue vehicle! 🦦🦭
Vote here: www.landrover.ca/en/experienc...
Vote here: www.landrover.ca/en/experienc...
This isn't happy news, but it's incredibly important to share. Southern Residents still exist, and they need our help more than ever if they are to survive. Please take a moment to read this article featuring quotes from Dr. Michael Weiss of Center for Whale Research.
cheknews.ca/southern-res...
cheknews.ca/southern-res...
Southern resident killer whales show signs of slow decline toward disappearance
The latest survey of endangered southern resident killer whales confirms their plateau and gradual slide toward disappearance in the absence of stronger measures to protect them, a director with the C...
cheknews.ca
October 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
This isn't happy news, but it's incredibly important to share. Southern Residents still exist, and they need our help more than ever if they are to survive. Please take a moment to read this article featuring quotes from Dr. Michael Weiss of Center for Whale Research.
cheknews.ca/southern-res...
cheknews.ca/southern-res...
PWWA members near Vancouver recently enjoyed an extended visit from the A42 & A25 matrilines of NORTHERN Residents. Unlike endangered Southern Residents, the NR population, which also feeds primarily on salmon, is much larger, with ~330-340 individuals.
📷: Julia Adelsheim, Wild Whales Vancouver
📷: Julia Adelsheim, Wild Whales Vancouver
October 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
PWWA members near Vancouver recently enjoyed an extended visit from the A42 & A25 matrilines of NORTHERN Residents. Unlike endangered Southern Residents, the NR population, which also feeds primarily on salmon, is much larger, with ~330-340 individuals.
📷: Julia Adelsheim, Wild Whales Vancouver
📷: Julia Adelsheim, Wild Whales Vancouver
@orcabehaviorinstitute.org has released their September sightings map, and it's a colorful one at that! There were plenty of sightings of Bigg's killer whales, Southern Resident killer whales, AND Northern Resident killer whales. Take a moment to read their full write-up. 👇
Here's our September Salish Sea orca sightings map! For once it was a busy month not just on the Bigg's killer whale front, but for both Southern and Northern Residents as well!
Read all the details here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
#whalesky
Read all the details here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
#whalesky
October 7, 2025 at 5:24 PM
@orcabehaviorinstitute.org has released their September sightings map, and it's a colorful one at that! There were plenty of sightings of Bigg's killer whales, Southern Resident killer whales, AND Northern Resident killer whales. Take a moment to read their full write-up. 👇
Humpbacks are known to intervene during orca hunts. On Saturday, the T46B1s were craving seal for lunch while BCX1377 "Nike" was nearby. Nike positioned himself between the seal and the orcas, but in the end, his efforts were unsuccessful.
📷: Mollie Cameron, @whalewatchingbc.bsky.social
📷: Mollie Cameron, @whalewatchingbc.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Humpbacks are known to intervene during orca hunts. On Saturday, the T46B1s were craving seal for lunch while BCX1377 "Nike" was nearby. Nike positioned himself between the seal and the orcas, but in the end, his efforts were unsuccessful.
📷: Mollie Cameron, @whalewatchingbc.bsky.social
📷: Mollie Cameron, @whalewatchingbc.bsky.social
Bigg's killer whale T101A "Rush" showed off his MASSIVE pectoral flippers during a spyhop last week. 😲 Naturalist Melisa Pinnow of San Juan Excursions got the shot.
October 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Bigg's killer whale T101A "Rush" showed off his MASSIVE pectoral flippers during a spyhop last week. 😲 Naturalist Melisa Pinnow of San Juan Excursions got the shot.
We're drooling over this gorgeous photo of a young Bigg's killer whale breaching under a pastel sky near Lummi Island. 🤩 We are so incredibly lucky to call this place home.
📷: Lincoln Humphry, San Juan Cruises
📷: Lincoln Humphry, San Juan Cruises
October 2, 2025 at 5:19 PM
We're drooling over this gorgeous photo of a young Bigg's killer whale breaching under a pastel sky near Lummi Island. 🤩 We are so incredibly lucky to call this place home.
📷: Lincoln Humphry, San Juan Cruises
📷: Lincoln Humphry, San Juan Cruises
Today we mourn the loss of Jane Goodall, one of the most passionate animal advocates the world has ever known. Through her work, she showed that wild animals can be intelligent and sentient beings, worthy of our appreciation and protection. She will be greatly missed.
people.com/jane-goodall...
people.com/jane-goodall...
Jane Goodall Dies at 91 While on Speaking Tour: She Was a 'Tireless Advocate' for Nature
Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and animal welfare advocate who became the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees after spending decades studying them in the wild in Tanzania's Gombe Stream...
people.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Today we mourn the loss of Jane Goodall, one of the most passionate animal advocates the world has ever known. Through her work, she showed that wild animals can be intelligent and sentient beings, worthy of our appreciation and protection. She will be greatly missed.
people.com/jane-goodall...
people.com/jane-goodall...
On Tuesday, several PWWA members enjoyed a massive "T-Party", the whale watch community's name for a gathering of multiple families of Bigg's (mammal-eating) orcas. By the end of the day, an impressive 33 individuals were documented in the mix!
📷: Alison Engle, Western Prince Whale Watching
📷: Alison Engle, Western Prince Whale Watching
September 26, 2025 at 6:28 PM
On Tuesday, several PWWA members enjoyed a massive "T-Party", the whale watch community's name for a gathering of multiple families of Bigg's (mammal-eating) orcas. By the end of the day, an impressive 33 individuals were documented in the mix!
📷: Alison Engle, Western Prince Whale Watching
📷: Alison Engle, Western Prince Whale Watching