Whale Scout

Dr. Hendrik Nollens is a Veterinarian at SeaWorld and member of the NOAA-lead operation to assess and treat J50, also known as Scarlet, an ailing Southern Resident killer whale. J50 has been deteriorating in health over the summer and teams have stepped in to help. This almost 4 year old whale is looking very thin and is possibly sick. Dr. Nollens discusses how she is doing and how the team plans to treat J50 for potential parasites.

Lean more about the effort to treat J50 at the NOAA website.

Other news:

Find information on Inslee’s Task Force and submit your comments here.

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Sixteen days after the birth and death of her calf, J35 continues to carry the body of the deceased orca as she travels with the rest of her pod. The unprecedented length of time this behavior has continued has begged the question, how might J35 be doing physiologically? At the same time, an operation to try and save J50, another J pod whale who appears in very poor body condition is underway. Learn more with Dawn Noren, Physiological Ecologist at NOAA.

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Director of the Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, Jeanette Dorner, discusses the recent news of J35’s deceased calf from a salmon recovery perspective. What can you do to help right now? A big opportunity to move large, shovel-ready, salmon habitat restoration projects is right before us. These projects include dam removal in Puget Sound rivers supporting Chinook salmon, orcas preferred prey. Listen to and read on to learn more.

Learn more.

Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) Fund Ranked List from the Puget Sound Partnership.

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Jeanette Dorner, Director of Mid-Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, gives us an update on what’s going on in Olympia regarding Atlantic salmon farming and rumors of ramping up hatchery production to provide more prey for killer whales. Whitney shares a story about a local park she is hoping the City of Bothell  will name after redfish, also known as kokanee and Jeanette describes restoration projects in Lake Sammamish.  Plus, more on upcoming events.

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Let’s learn about salmon together. In order to protect killer whales in Puget Sound we must understand what’s threatening our salmon and take action. Jeanette Dorner from Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group will be joining us on this and future podcasts to help everyone learn more about salmon.

Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group is a nonprofit organization that works in King and eastern Kitsap counties to maximize self-sustaining salmon populations through community engagement. We work cooperatively with landowners, governments, businesses, Tribes and other nonprofits to identify, design and implement projects that improve salmon habitat in the rivers and streams that sustain us all. As a nonprofit, Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group receives support from the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the generosity of private businesses, organizations and citizens like you.

If you have questions about salmon you want answered by Jeanette, email info@whalescout.org.

If there are folks that do want to get in touch with Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group to be on the volunteer list, email info@midsoundfisheries.org. If you are from a different part of Washington state Mid Sound Fisheries will get in contact with one of the sister enhancement groups.

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Lina Rose from King County Parks talks to us about the next Helpin’ Out event at the Maury Island Marine Park. Learn more about the event and why it’s important for whales. Plus, Whitney gives us a news update!

More about the Helpin’ Out Event:

Date: October 14th, 2017

Time: 10:15am – 2:30pm

Bring: water, lunch
Provided: gloves and tools
16 and under with adult supervision.

Driving directions:
Taking the Fauntleroy-Vashon Ferry to Vashon Island – If you are coming out to Vashon Island just for the event, there is a ferry leaving the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock in West Seattle at 9:15am. This will get you to Vashon in time to drive to the event arriving to the event about 10:15am. There is a return ferry to Fauntleroy at 3:30, we will finish the event in time for volunteers to be to the ferry dock by 3:00. If you are able to spend the day on Vashon, there are lots of wonderful King County Parks to explore! If you are taking the ferry from Tacoma, catch the 9:15am departing from Point Defiance then you can return on either the 3:10pm or 4:05 ferries. Drive north on the Vashon Island Ferry SW, turn right onto SW Quartermaster Dr. then follow directions below from Dockton Rd SW/George Edwards Rd to park

Directions from the Vashon Island Ferry Dock
 Drive off Ferry Dock and onto Vashon Highway SW
 Turn left at SW Cemetery Rd
 SW Cemetery Rd turns right and becomes Vashon Ave
 Turn left onto College Ave/SW Ellisport Rd
 Continue onto Dockton Rd SW/George Edwards Rd – Continue to follow Dockton Rd SW
 Continue straight onto SW Point Robinson Rd
 Turn left to stay on SW Point Robinson Rd
 Turn right onto 59th Ave SW
 Turn left at the 1st cross street onto SW 244th St
 Turn left into the gravel parking area
 Open gate and continue driving down the success road. PLEASE CLOSE GATE BEHIND YOU
 As you drive down the access road, take your first bear right, continue driving and you will see our registration table. You can park down by this registration area

Please RSVP to info@whalescout.org and Lina.Rose@kingcounty.gov

For more information download the info sheet!

10.14.17 Event Information Sheet (1)

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June is Orca Month! Learn about how Orca Month got started and has grown into an enormous event with numerous events throughout the West Coast. Susan talks about this year’s highlights. Make your plans now!

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