Then board our boat for a day of orca whale watching. Spring is great whale watching time in the pacific northwest, with some whale watching charters boasting that you have a 95 percent chance of seeing a gray whale during the peak season, march through may. Those four whales, 44, 49, 53, and 56 all made their first appearance in puget sound back in 1991, gless said. Seattle, washington 98112 northwest fisheries science center. The vaccination program raises the possibility of using vaccines to prevent disease among puget sound s southern resident killer whales, but no specific steps have been taken so far. Our 4 hour port townsend whale watching tour is the perfect trip for visitors and travelers with a busy schedule. Killer whales near puget sound, washington youtube. Srkw whale watching industry in puget sound, washington. Oct 29, 2017 killer whales beached while hunting for seals prince rupert adventure tours duration. Other captive orcas historical chronology a whale of a. Seattle new technology could help ships and ferries navigate around.
Go whale watching in seattle times of india travel. So you can see there is a big seasonal shift in the different seasons. With washington state waters off limits, sea world turned to iceland for its killer whale captures. It is hard to say whether the morning is better or the afternoon is better, because usually if we have whales in the area we will see them on both trips. The us whale watching industry of greater puget sound. About twin peaks roofing in the puget sound area, washington the best roofs start with the highest quality roofer. Whale watching faqs what is the best time of the year to see orca whales.
My dates are flexible but i would prefer to go in april. Whale watching in the san juan islands the mandagies. In the high season for whale watching, they usually do well. Migrating gray whales that pause in puget sound may hold. Are whale watchers taking a toll on puget sounds orcas. Whale watching from land whidbey and camano islands. Recent whale sightings in the salish sea puget sound, northwest straits, gulf islands and georgia strait note. Sightseeing tours whale watching washington port townsend. From seattle or nearby lynnwood find a wildlife tour year round to see these amazing mammals.
Yet, each year, our corner of wilderness along the puget sound has dozens of whale sightings. A dependable and reliable seattle and puget sound company for 30 years, plus another 15 years in the roofing industry, tom klobucar has made twin. Guaranteed whale watching tours from port townsend olympic peninsula and seattleedmonds direct to the san juan islands. Plan your trip san juan safaris san juan island whale. See orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, gray whales and all the majestic wildlife in the salish sea on our tour departing from edmonds just minutes north of downtown seattle.
A few miles north of discovery park, 88acre golden gardens park is a steep, narrow strip of forest and sand that curves for more than a mile along puget sound. A male gray whale that feasts on shrimp in the puget sound every year was spotted over the weekend, marking the start of an annual stay in washington state inland waters by a small but peculiar. Because of its prime location on the puget sound, whale watchers dont need to rely solely on boat tours for sightings. Suzanne russell and morgan schniedler ruff northwest fisheries science center. Docked along the shores of port townsend is the puget sound express, a fourhour whalewatching tour. Where to see orcas near seattle this summer seattle weekly. As a familyowned and operated business for over 30 years, visitors return again and again.
Seattle whale watching guide 2019 clipper vacations. This hike up whale peak in the anza borrego state park was a bit of both. The authors write that the list serves as a foundation for determining the occurrence of new species and the disappearance of others, enables selection of species as indicators for ecosystem health, and also provides a basis for identifying the. Take full advantage of whale watching season in the pacific northwest.
Whales are seen from the shore at places like alki beach one of the best beaches in seattle. Usually the peak whale watching season is may midjuly, however, it seems like the sightings are getting better and better as we get further into the summer season. Whale watching with puget sound express visit seattle. Want an amazing whale watching experience, but dont have all day to spend on the water. In a youtube video posted on may 22, the whale is first seen lunging up through a large school of fish. Jay inslee and the puget sound partnership, which operates under a legal mandate to restore the health of puget sound. Were seeing unprecedented numbers of humpbacks much has been made in the last few years of the humpback comeback in the salish sea, the return of north pacific humpback whales megaptera novaeangliae to these inland waters after once being decimated by commercial whaling. Sightings summaries archives sighting report archives.
Other orcas eat only fish, and their family groups follow the salmon runs of spring, summer and fall into the waters of the strait and puget sound. Go here from your mobile device and click your account to create a user login. June is generally considered to be peak time for orca watching in the san. Distance restrictions on puget sound orcas havent hurt tourism. But this capture during the height of tourist season on whidbey. Anyone can do that by downloading the whale report app on a. Puget sounds killer whales looking good the seattle times.
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. The best orca whale watching is from friday harbor, san juan island, just an easy day trip adventure from downtown seattle. During peak viewing months, our success rate for sighting orcas is almost 100%. The highest mountain is mount rainier in washington, a sleeping volcano near seattle with a height of 4. Best time for whale watching in seattle near lynwood washington. Even as the whales are dying in front of us, the number of whalewatching boats continues to grow. Id prefer to see orcas and i heard they might be around that area in april. High speed whale watching tour from downtown seattle. In the winter there is tons of rain, verses in the summer itll rain once or twice in the entire season. Whale watching in seattle orca whale watching and gray. Whale watching tour seattleedmonds puget sound express. It recounts the early days of the capturing of killer whales and how this eventually brought us to where we are today. There is a reason so many people come from all over the world to the san juan islands north of seattle to catch a glimpse of the worlds top ocean predator. Sail through breathtaking deception pass, and travel through the protected waters of the salish sea, while trained naturalists educate passengers about the remarkable ecosystem and its wildlife with a focus on whale and sealife conservation.
The gray whales migrate each year from baja california to their feeding grounds way up north in the chukchi and bering seas. Washington state ferry fares to the san juan islands paid at the anacortes terminal include round trip travel. A few weeks ago, berty and i went with clipper vacations to experience the salish sea, go whale watching, and explore friday harbor in the san juan islands. While we have wonderful boat tours that give you a great perspective, sometimes the whales schedule doesnt exactly match tour schedules. With cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. Whale watchers accused of loving endangered orcas to death. Pcc community markets greater seattles natural, organic. The following list is based on a compilation by gaydos and pearson 2011, first published in northwestern naturalist no. It takes about an hour to get from edmonds to the san juans on their foilcatthen you have a couple of hours to spot whales and porpoises.
See orcas, humpback whales, minkes, and all the majestic wildlife in the san. The best time to see killer whales in the san juan islands. Washington state status report for the killer whale. Its interesting to see they have all arrived at the same time this year. Download this orca killer whales in the puget sound near the san juan islands photo now. Embodying the wild nature of the city, whale watching is one of the most popular tourist activities in seattle.
Puget sound whales for sale is a brilliant and outstanding book. While we do not guarantee whale sightings on our tours, 20 years of sightings data shows that we do have a 90% chance of seeing whales during the peak. In 2015 with support from dnr, cascadia conducted expanded dedicated surveys, photoid, initial tag deployments to examine feeding behavior, and. After puget sound, seaworld did not want to be officially involved, but don goldsberry agreed to. Gray whales called sounders return to the puget sound to. Tour leaders have resources that help them know where the whales are hanging out each day, but that doesnt mean its the only way to go whale watching. Plan your pacific northwest whale watching adventure today. Does anyone know if this is a good time to whale watch. An orca whale breaches in view of mount baker, some 60 miles distant, in. Let us help you plan your most memorable trip ever. Id like to go to seattle for several reasons but my main reason would be to whale watch.
As many as 25 whale watching vessels may follow the puget sound orca pods during peak traffic periods. Seattle, which is in the puget sound, lies on a narrow strip of land between the salt water of the sound and the fresh waters of lake washington. Are whale watchers taking a toll on puget sound s orcas. In washington, whale watching boils down to the waters around vancouver island. Something that sets puget sound express apart from other whale watching tours is that they guarantee whale sightings or another trip for free. Resident gray whales return to puget sound the seattle times. Actions were taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus learn what pcc is doing to best serve you, care for our staff, and be a responsible member of our community during the recent outbreak of novel coronavirus covid19 in our region. The san juan islands draws more whale watchers, but the orca whales are seen all along the coast of washington as well as in and around the san juan islands and the puget sound, part of the salish sea.
Joining a whale watching tour makes spotting whales of all sorts much more likely. Puget sound express whale watching tours downtown seattle. Along with the arrival of spring comes the passage of gray whales through puget sound and the salish sea. Even if we didnt see whales the day we went out, it would have been fun.
Licensed roofers puget sound area, wa twin peaks roofing. Field identification guide to northern puget sound gray whales 2 mb pdf file cascadia research has been conducting photoid research on gray whales in n puget sound since 1990 as a part of a larger study of gray whales in the pacific northwest. Jun 12, 2017 a local drone operator captured footage of a humpback whale feeding in south puget sound. Also whale behavior does not change based on the time of day. Speeding boater strikes, runs over whale in puget sound. Whale researchers who track the small endangered population of puget sound orcas say three whales are believed dead or missing since summer. Apr 24, 2017 amateur video captured a speeding boater striking a whale while shocked whale watchers looked on in puget sound on sunday. They were heavily hunted in the eastern north pacific from early 1900s through 1965 rice 1974, 1978. Whale watching august 4 august 11 seattle puget sound. Daylong whale watching tours from seattle, around whidbey island, to the iconic san juan islands. Its a great place to take in views of puget sound and the olympics, meet up with local friends for an evening gathering, or.
The climate of the puget sound lowlands has two versions. Fly from downtown seattle to the port of friday harbor on san juan island. The san juan islands, located 140 km north of seattle in the heart of salish sea, is the most famous place for orca whale watching. In recent years, march may and october november, have had similar sighting success. Whale watching cruise in saratoga passage two and a half hour cruise with puget sound express leaving from langley marina at 3. With some research and planning, you can go whale watching in seattle and other puget sound cities on your own. Whale watching industry of greater puget sound a description and baseline analysis. San juan island 90 miles north of seattle is the best place for orca whale watching as we are located in the heart of salish sea. We always like to say that no two whale watching tours are the same. I had never been to friday harbor, and was our first time going to the puget sound for whale watching season. While winter is not necessarily peak season, it still offers plenty of chances to see a variety of mammals. Explore the natural beauty of puget sound noteworthy for. But their pit stop in puget sound on the way north may have saved them from an unusual mortality event that took the lives of more than 200 gray whales last year from california to alaska about. Theres nothing quite like seeing puget sounds largest and most.
The number of gray whale deaths in washington state has already exceeded the total for 2018, well before the peak season for grays to be in the puget sound area, the crosscut reported. Percent occupancy for the peak season by kayak and land sectors. The best time to see killer whales in the san juan islands this is one of the most asked questions that we get. Cut the toxins and boat noise, and boost salmon, so orcas. The local marine wildlife also includes porpoises, sea lions, seals, otters and bald eagles, as well as humpback, minke and gray whales. Sightings and movements of humpback whales in puget sound. Gray whale tutorial gray whales eschrichtius robustus the saratoga gray whale field guide produced by cascadia research collective.
Killer whales beached while hunting for seals prince rupert adventure tours duration. Southern resident killer whales in washington face four main. At twin peaks roofing we are proud to be a small, familyownedandoperated company since our inception in 1991, and we strive to offer you personalized service in the the puget sound area and king counties of washington. Whales inhabit the waters of puget sound throughout the year, but the spring and summer season have the best chances to spot them. Agree about february being peak season, but disagree about the boat. Were seeing unprecedented numbers of humpbacks puget.
Pdf washington state status report for the killer whale. The 82 endangered whales are fat and sleek, and several appear to be. Port townsend 4hour whale watching tour puget sound express. Chart of sightings by species by month with big thanks to thorsten lisker for researching, designing, and building this incredible map and the printed handouts for participants at the orca network sightings training at the langley whale center sept. How a generation of killer whales was taken from puget sound. Whale watching from land whale watching is a favorite activity in and around puget sound. Nov 09, 2015 its just another rainy day here in seattle, so what better way to enjoy it than searching for whales in puget sound. Go whale watching at point defiance southsoundtalk. The mv kestrel is a rib ridged inflatable style vessel that cruises waters around san juan island at an impressive 35 knots. For more than a decade, puget sound was the primary source of supply. In the past six months, tacoma residents who know what to look for out in the murky waters have seen a pod of orcas and a few humpback whales from a couple of locations in point defiance. The pwf staff was interesting and the whales at times actually swim right up to the boat we had a mother ahd calf swim up and then under ours. Here are a few gray whale facts and resources to help you get to know gray whales better. Three excellent options for puget sound whale watching or sea life viewing while in the seattle washington area.
The highest responses in the motorized vessel analysis show that 42. Residential roofing, commercial roofing puget sound area. The 40seat boat, which departs twice daily, allows for both indoor and outdoor seating. When i was first told i was going whale watching i was imagining an outdoor boat, and packed for that expecting it to be cold and wet since this is seattle. The charismatic killer whale, or orca, is the totem species of northwest washington and coastal british columbia. Thats one reason why federal authorities approved the development and deployment of a new vaccine to ward off the deadly morbillivirus among hawaiian monk seals.
Enjoy the experience of a lifetime with seattles only halfday, guaranteed whale watching tour. In the peak season of may through october, dozens of boats follow them all day, every day. This intelligent, social predator is known to form lasting social bonds living in highly organized pods where everyone cares for the young, sick or injured. Nov 27, 2018 with cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. There are 3 pods that are resident in the san juans, and they are generally all back in the san juans from wherever they go for the winter by mayjune. Whale watching is a favorite activity in and around puget sound. The peak time for whale deaths in washington is from late march through june, calambokidis said.
With the likelihood that more bodies might show up, price johnson is trying to get local governments involved in the process deciding where to bring them. Peak whale watching season is mayoct, and while some companies offer tours outside these dates, chances of encountering sea life are lower. So i, along with a few other visit seattle staff members, made my way about 20 minutes north to the port of edmonds for a morning excursion. June is generally considered to be peak time for orca watching in the san juans so if you can come a bit later, that would be optimal. Orca whales usually pass through the islands in greatest numbers between midmay and midoctober when the salmon runs are strongest, although its possible to spot them through the rest of the year. Puget sound waterfront owners asked to house dead whales. Tours are also launched at port townsend eastern entrance to the puget. Puget sounds most celebrated residents the j, k, and l pods of southernresident killer whales are looking good. Best time to whale watch in seattle seattle forum tripadvisor. Orca killer whales in the puget sound near the san juan.
The question of whether boatbased watching tours are really harmless has become more urgent in washington state, where southern. This trail guide is one part throwback the hike was over two years ago, and one part a cautionary tale of what happens when three experienced hikers venture out into the anza. The vaccination program raises the possibility of using vaccines to prevent disease among puget sounds southern resident killer whales, but no specific steps have been taken so far. Nov 02, 2017 by christopher dunagan, puget sound institute actions that could save puget sounds killer whales from extinction have been placed on a fast track by washington gov. While plenty of commercial tours will charter you around the sound, whale watching does not always require a boat. Be sure to dress warm with extra layers handy to adjust to changing temperatures. Gray whales are a species of baleen whale frequently seen from locations along highway 112, particularly in the summer and fall.
The highest responses in the regional analysis show that 23. And search more of istocks library of royaltyfree stock images that features animal photos available for quick and easy download. Mario rivera and his wife stefanie worwag volunteered to host a whale carcass on their property near port hadlock. While we do not guarantee whale sightings on our tours, 20 years of sightings data shows that we do have a 90% chance of seeing whales during the peak months of june september. Puget sound s orca episode 107 1m 1s susan bertha talks about the orca network and the efforts to enhance awareness of the southern resident orca killer whale community.
Jun, 2018 that said, when i was asked to participate in a whale watching tour with puget sound express, i couldnt refuse. Getting to san juan island is half the fun, and once youre here, youll be amazed by all there is to see and do. Humpback whales megaptera novaeanliae were some of the most common large cetaceans in the inland waters of washinton, including puget sound, in the early 1900s scheffer and slipp 1948. The san juan islands are considered the jewel of the pacific northwest, located in the puget sound. Orca whales usually pass through the islands in greatest numbers between midmay and midoctober when the salmon runs. North puget sound gray whale photoid and feeding study. June 15, 2008 blog, general bellingham, orca whales, whale watching sean berry. Gray whales are making their yearly migration back to the puget sound for their annual feast. Commissioner raises stink over whale carcass south. Dont miss your opportunity to explore the emerald city before or after your whale watching safari. Also, the wet season will usually peak midwinter and end midspring.