Whats Killing The Killer Whales?
During annual photo inventories conducted by the Center for Whale Research, scientists discovered that seven orcas were missing, presumed dead. Orcas, listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, had been steadily increasing in number over the past several years following a steep decline earlier this decade. While some of the deaths are unsurprising (particularly an old female and calves), the group also lost two female at the height of reproduction. “When you see adult, reproductive-age females die, then you start to get a bit more concerned about what might be going on,” said Brad Hanson, a federal marine mammalogist. So what’s killing the whales? Scientists think falling salmon stocks are to blame. Salmon make up about 80% of the orcas’ diet. Although salmon stocks in Washington have been in trouble for some time, Puget Sound orcas are known to range as far south as Monterey Bay in California to feed. Now the salmon in California and Oregon are suffering, too, meaning the
