WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Harbor porpoise found dead on Alki Point

Our hotline (206-293-6302) rang this afternoon – someone wondering who to call about a dead porpoise. In West Seattle, if it’s a stranded (dead or alive) marine mammal, you call Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, we replied – 206-905-SEAL. We just found out what happened later, with local wildlife advocate Kersti Muul sending photos and this report:

This evening there was a washed-up female harbor porpoise on the beach at low tide just South of the Lighthouse…. Initial rudimentary scans appear to reveal some issue with birthing perhaps. She was so beautiful, practically flawless and beautifully designed by nature…. I photographed her for evidence of transient orca interference but found none.

Seal Sitters was there with her and a group of us helped carry her to a private driveway where she was to be picked up for necropsy by Cascadia Research Collective.

As noted by NOAA last year, harbor porpoises had dwindled in Puget Sound until a big comeback in recent years

3 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Harbor porpoise found dead on Alki Point"

  • Alki Resident May 16, 2017 (10:42 pm)

    How devastating. This really saddens me. 

  • Karenr May 16, 2017 (10:52 pm)

    So very sorry to hear this.  I saw a small pod this weekend – three of them, off Arroyo Beach and again at Seahurst Park.

  • Kersti Muul May 17, 2017 (7:17 am)

    Thank you Seal Sitters for always doing such a wonderful job. High levels of patience and excellent communication skills..and lots of passion

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