Posts by Colleen Weiler
West Coast Humpback Whales Face “Perfect Storm” as Risk of Accidental Entanglements Increase
Accidental entanglement in fishing gear is one of the biggest global threats to whales and dolphins. Off all coasts of the U.S., entanglement is growing issue, especially for endangered populations of whales. In the Pacific Ocean off the West Coast, entanglements have increased significantly since 2013 and reached record levels compared to the historic average. …
Read MoreLasting Legacies: Orca Action Month 2023
Each June we celebrate Orca Month and the unique community of Southern Resident orcas, and this June is extra special. 2023 is also the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a landmark law that protects vulnerable species and the places they call home. The ESA means a lot for the Southern Residents. The law is written…
Read MoreSouthern Resident orca petition to list them under Oregon Endangered Species Act advanced
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to advance a petition seeking to protect southern resident orcas under the state Endangered Species Act (ESA). The petition was brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. In the coming months the commission will conduct a public rulemaking process…
Read MoreWDC and Conservation Partners Continue to Seek Oregon Endangered Species Protection for Southern Resident Orcas
On Friday, April 21st, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will determine whether the petition submitted earlier this year by WDC and our conservation partners Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity to list the Southern Resident orcas under the Oregon Endangered Species Act presents enough information to move forward with the listing. …
Read MorePetition Seeks Oregon Endangered Species Protection for Southern Resident Orcas
For Immediate Release, February 16, 2023 PORTLAND, OR — The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation filed a petition today to protect Southern Resident orcas under the Oregon Endangered Species Act. As of the most recent census, just 73 Southern Resident orcas remain, divided among three family groups. “Southern…
Read MoreLooking forward for Southern Resident orcas in 2023
Hysazu Photography 2022 was a big year for Southern Resident orcas – 2022 brought the final decision to remove the Klamath River dams in Oregon and California, which will give its salmon, a crucial food source for the orcas, a much-needed boost. Built early in the 1900s, the Klamath dams did not have fish passage…
Read MoreDam Good News for Southern Resident orcas
Pardon the pun (we’ve used it before) but we just can’t help ourselves. After decades of advocacy by Tribes, conservation groups, and river users, the Klamath River dams are officially coming down. This is great news for the Southern Resident orcas, who rely on Klamath River salmon as part of their seasonal diet, and a…
Read MoreStream to Sea: Orca Action Month 2022
This June was an exceptionally busy and exciting Orca Month, starting with a somewhat surprising but wonderful return to their summer home waters by J pod of the Southern Resident orca population. Orca Month is celebrated in June to align with the time the orcas historically returned to the Salish Sea, but in recent years…
Read MorePregnant Southern Resident orcas and an ask for more space.
A mixed bag of news for endangered Southern Resident orcas was announced at the end of Orca Action Month in June. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) declared 13 individuals in the population “vulnerable” ahead of the summer season when the orcas are usually in their core summer habitat around Washington’s San Juan…
Read MoreIt’s Time To Breach The Snake River Dams
The Snake River dams were controversial even before they were built. While they were still in the planning stage, Northwest Tribes, salmon advocates, and even state agencies spoke out against the damage that would be caused to salmon. Tribes who lived along the Snake River had already seen the devastation that major dams caused to…
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