On a crisp morning in July 2022, a pod of orcas slipped through the foggy waters near Lime Kiln Point on San Juan Island—J pod, unmistakable by the nicked dorsal fin of matriarch Granny’s lineage. For decades, whale watchers have gathered here hoping for such a sighting, but those moments are growing rarer for all but one group of the region’s iconic killer whales. A sweeping analysis of nearly 50 years of sightings, from 1978 to 2022, reveals a shifting story beneath Puget Sound’s shimmering surface: while Bigg’s killer whales—marine mammal hunters once rarely seen inland—are now appearing with striking frequency, the endangered southern resident orcas are spending less time in these waters, with one notable exception—J pod.
The southern residents, listed as endangered in 2005, now number just 74 individuals across three pods: J, K, and L. Their decline is tied to a complex web of threats—vanishing salmon stocks, vessel noise, and pollution—but their changing movements add another layer to the puzzle. Using data from The Whale Museum’s Sightings Archive, University of Washington researchers found that K and L pods are increasingly absent from Puget Sound, likely following salmon along the outer coast. J pod, however, remains a consistent presence, suggesting deep cultural knowledge may be guiding their choices. “Does J pod know something that K and L don’t? Or vice versa? We like to think about which pods have really old grandmas left and who’s teaching them where to go,” said NOAA marine mammal specialist Laura Koehn.
Meanwhile, Bigg’s killer whales—named after pioneering scientist Michael Bigg—have surged in numbers, likely drawn by a rebound in seals and sea lions following the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act. These transient predators, once scarce in inland waters, are now seen with growing regularity, overlapping more often with southern residents. The ecological ripple effects are still unknown—Bigg’s may indirectly help southern residents by reducing competition for salmon, or their presence could cause stress and avoidance.
Despite shifting patterns, protections remain centered on inland waters. In 2021, NOAA expanded critical habitat for southern residents to 16,000 square miles, stretching from the U.S.-Canada border to California. Regulations like the Quiet Sound Program, which reduces ship speed to lower underwater noise, and the 1,000-foot boating buffer, continue to focus on areas where J pod still forages. These rules, shaped by decades of citizen science—from whale watchers logging sightings via apps like Whale Alert—are more than policy; they’re lifelines.
“Even though we’re seeing less of K and L pods, we still have to think about how our actions impact J pod. They’re still hanging around,” Koehn emphasized. As the tides of presence shift, so too must our understanding. The whales are telling us a story—one of resilience, adaptation, and the enduring power of place.