ORCAS: Off West Seattle again (updates). Sad news too – calf J64 has vanished

| West Seattle news | Whales

(Added: Photo from 8 am hour, texted by reader)

8:42 AM: Thanks for the multiple tips that orcas are in Elliott Bay again this morning, currently southbound toward Alki Point.

11:26 AM: They’re still in the area; most recent comments have them southbound past Fauntleroy.

But there’s sad news too; calf J64 has apparently died. The Center for Whale Research announced this in a post Saturday, saying the baby was nowhere in sight in their most recent encounter with her family. She was first seen less than two months ago, and most recently a week and a half ago.

1:33 PM: Meantime, today’s visitors are still out there. Patrick W emailed a few minutes ago to say, “Orcas moving north from Des Moines. Both USCG Port Security units are with the pod, oddly enough. We’re observing from Tramp Harbor on Vashon.”

Kersti Muul November 2, 2025 (9:44 am)

Original sighting was at 0753 We have members of all 3 pods again, and could be a superpod. Currently leaders are passing restoration point. Trailers at wing Point. Lpod in the lead 0944

N November 2, 2025 (9:58 am)

Pics or it didn’t happen, lol. We went out yesterday and saw nothing.

WSB November 2, 2025 (11:35 am)

Yes, it happened. But I do have a photo sent by a reader at 8:30 am, wasn’t able to add until now.

Kersti Muul November 2, 2025 (10:44 am)

Leaders are through the fauntleroy Ferry lanes Trailers back towards the south end of Blake Lots and lots of whales out here people!! Great morning ❤️🤗 1044

Jackson November 2, 2025 (11:14 am)

Orcas spotted 1115 from lincoln park just south of Vashon ferry terminal headed south

anonyme November 2, 2025 (3:40 pm)

I’m guessing that so many orcas are here due to the salmon run currently being exploited by the fishing fleets here. Maybe if humans weren’t so selfish and greedy, orca calves would have a better chance of survival…another tragic loss.

Actualperson November 2, 2025 (3:56 pm)

Wouldn’t be a demand if people didn’t eat fish in any form. What are you doing about that?
- Also John November 2, 2025 (5:10 pm)
  
  I’m not eating fish. Pretty simple answer.
K.S. November 2, 2025 (5:46 pm)

Thank you for speaking of this horrific reality! Humans will never be the top of the food chain and we need to respect the species we share land with! Grown and raised her, specifically in West Seattle, this is our visceral native culture. We need to push for regulations on the locations of where these greedy fishing fleets operate. In addition, the necessary environmental regulations that have been in place since my mother was born here in the 50’s and before that, have been lifted within recent years. The lack of environmental regulations of the Puget Sound contribute to the deaths of orcas and other species. This is criminal. From where low altitude planes are allowed to fly over the Sound, to the lack of regulating what is dumped into the Sound, and loud shipping fleet noise, how do expect orcas to survive? The awe and beauty of what everyone loves to admire will disappear unless the community takes action to stop these negative impacts. And from where I come from, my being signal hears the orcas crying for help to have a chance to survive in there own home! We have the power to help them. Unfortunately, the government is allowing environmental regulations to be lifted in order to appease corporations. We need to push back. Whether your from here or not, please find a way to join us natives as stewart’s of the land, advocates for the species we share land with and the delicate ecosystems of this land. This is the Pacific Northwest Culture! Please adopt it!
GDI November 3, 2025 (11:48 am)

I’m currently looking at a tribal gillnetter fishing for chums off of Emma Schmitz Overlook. It’s the only boat out there. For those that state unequivocally and with absolute certainty that any person salmon fishing is doing something bad, how would you explain your position to this native person? If your ire only applies to non-tribal fishers, why is their culture and livelihood, which has been part of the regional history for at least 150 years, any less important than the tribes? Remember the law says each are allowed 50%, so if one can fish so may the other.Also, keep in mind that everyone eats something and all of it has environmental impacts. Even vegetarianism. The difference is you are shifting that impact to somewhere and someone else.My point is fishing regulations are tricky and involve trade offs that affect real people who are in fact your neighbors. It’s very easy to yell and scream from your phone. Real life is much more nuanced.

Scarlett November 3, 2025 (7:05 am)

A cautionary tale. For years, even decades, we were fed the story that logging was causing the decline of the Spotted Owl. I and others looked at the evidence and argued that the inursion of the non-native Barred Owl into the PNW and N. Cal (where I hail from) found it a more persuasive argument. We have to be be careful that we don’t fall into blindered-type thinking when we look at a species that appears to be in decline; indeed we don’t know what a healthy population of Orca’s is even in an environment free of us.

Carolyn Duncan November 3, 2025 (10:41 am)

Another noisy foot ferry is planned for multiple runs between Tacoma and Seattle during the World Cup next summer. Noise is among the biggest stressors for orcas.

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