SeaDoc Society Content

Why Are Killer Whales Harassing and Killing Porpoises Without Eating Them?

Katherine E Kerlin — September 28, 2023 - 10:48am

Why do killer whales harass porpoises without eating them? Scientists from 51�ԹϺ�� Davis' SeaDoc Society and Wild Orca investigate a perplexing behavior.

Skin Disease in Endangered Killer Whales Concerns Scientists

Katherine E Kerlin — June 28, 2023 - 11:00am

Scientists studying endangered southern resident killer whales have observed a strong increase in the prevalence of skin disease in this population.

Sea Lion Rescued From Deadly Plastic Entanglement

Katherine E Kerlin — November 18, 2022 - 2:27pm

Dramatic footage of a rescue mission with 51�ԹϺ�� Davis' SeaDoc Society to save a Steller sea lion entangled in plastic.

Citizen Divers Aid Understanding of Fish in the Salish Sea

Katherine E Kerlin — March 24, 2022 - 10:27am

Hundreds of fish species live in the Salish Sea, and many face a number of threats. Monitoring the health of these fish populations is crucial. But with nearly 5,000 miles of coastline and more than 400 islands, it’s no small task.

Fungal Outbreak in Marine Mammals Began on Land

Katherine E Kerlin — October 21, 2021 - 5:04pm

In the early 2000s, a fungus infected hundreds of animals and people in British Columbia and Washington. Scientists found that the disease also killed porpoises and dolphins in the Salish Sea — perhaps affecting cetaceans even earlier than people.

New Podcast Examines Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales

Katherine E Kerlin — April 01, 2021 - 10:30am

Only 75 southern resident killer whales remain in the wild, and the population is looking directly at extinction if humans don’t pay immediate attention to their plight. A new podcast series, Pod of Orcas: Saving Southern Resident Killer Whales, aims to tell their story over six-weeks.

Bringing the Salish Sea to Tacoma’s Fifth Graders

Katherine E Kerlin — March 08, 2021 - 2:44pm

Tacoma Public School students are taking a big step into their local ecosystem.

While the pandemic has disrupted in-person schooling nationwide, Tacoma Public Schools is piloting a new Explore the Salish Sea science curriculum district-wide that adventurous fifth grade teachers at two Tacoma schools implemented last year.

What’s Killing Killer Whales?

Katherine E Kerlin — December 02, 2020 - 11:00am

Pathology reports on more than 50 killer whales stranded over nearly a decade in the northeast Pacific and Hawaii show that orcas face a variety of mortal threats — many stemming from human interactions.

A study analyzing the reports was published today (Dec. 2) in the journal PLOS ONE. The study findings indicate that understanding and being aware of each threat is critical for managing and conserving killer whale populations. It also presents a baseline understanding of orca health.

AAAS Press Briefing: Protecting the Health of Endangered Whales

Katherine E Kerlin — February 16, 2020 - 4:34pm

Marine mammal health is changing across the globe due to human activities and climate change. Increasing numbers of animals are dying from trauma, environmental pollution, disease and lack of food. Some populations have recovered while others face extinction.

Scientists and veterinarians from the University of California, Davis, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will hold a press briefing about new and ongoing efforts to protect marine mammal health, including that of endangered southern resident killer whales, North Atlantic right whales, and the vaquita.

Where on Earth Is the Salish Sea?

Katherine E Kerlin — May 16, 2019 - 3:09pm

Less than half of the people in Washington and British Columbia have heard of the Salish Sea, even though they live alongside it.