Hot off the camera: aerial images of all three pods and the first health measurements of the newest Southern Resident killer whale calf

By Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director

SR3's Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Dr. John Durban and Sadie Youngstrom have had a successful start to their annual health monitoring of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs), extending our dataset to 17 years in this consistent month of September! The team has been flying a custom drone carrying a high-resolution camera and precise altimeter 150 ft high over the whales to non-invasively collect aerial images that enable quantitative measurements of length and body condition - a photogrammetry technique Dr. Fearnbach and Dr. Durban have pioneered over the last decade. So far this month, the team has collected aerial images of members from all three pods (J, K and L) and updated health metrics from these images will be reported to fisheries management agencies in both the US and Canada, with the aim of ensuring that SRKWs have an adequate supply of prey, specifically Chinook salmon. 

Notably, the team has imaged and measured the newest member of the Southern Resident killer whale population, L128, and its mother L90. These are the first quantitative data on the health of the pair since L90 gave birth, collected on the first day that the new calf was seen. Measurements show that the mother is in a defined body condition state of “normal” for an adult female at this time of year, an improvement from when she was last measured to be in “poor” body condition state in November 2022. The calf is very small and vulnerable, measuring only 7 ft (compared to its 19 ft long mother), making it the smallest calf in SR3’s measurement dataset and placing its likely age at just a few days at most. SR3 will continue to monitor the growth of the calf, and the body condition of both the calf and its mother, in the coming weeks as part of our annual photogrammetry assessment of the population's health, and in the coming years to hopefully document successful rearing of the calf. In a population this small, every calf matters. Thanks to Dave Ellifrit, Jessica Farrer and their teams from the Center for Whale Research and the Whale Museum, respectively, for their collaboration on the water.

Aerial images of Southern Resident killer whales taken during health research in September 2024: L90 and her new calf L128 surfacing (left) and J16 breaching (right). Images obtained using an octocopter drone flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS research permit # 22306.

Health monitoring of Southern Resident killer whales to inform management actions

By Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director

SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban have continued to collect valuable data on the health of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) as part of their year-round monitoring of the endangered population. The team (joined by SR3’s Sadie Youngstrom in late June and early July) has been using an octocopter drone to non-invasively collect aerial images of SRKWs throughout the year to document seasonal changes in body condition (6/7 months so far this year), adding to data collected in 7/12 months in each of the past two years. These data are collected to help inform management actions aimed at recovering the struggling population. 

Using measurements from aerial images collected between June 2023 and May 2024, Holly and John identified one individual SRKW to be in late-stage pregnancy, 14 individuals to be in poor body condition (BC1), and one individual that declined three body condition states from robust condition (BC5) to sub-normal condition (BC2) when they were last imaged. BC1 individuals have been found to have an elevated (2 x 3) likelihood of subsequent mortality. As such, these 15 whales were designated as vulnerable by an emergency rule issued by Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, requiring commercial whale-watching vessels to stay at least one-half nautical mile away from the vulnerable Southern Resident killer whales this summer, and encouraging all boaters to Be Whale Wise and do the same. This management action is intended to limit disturbance from vessel noise to maximize the whales’ chances of finding and catching their primary prey, Chinook salmon. Starting in January 2025, almost all boaters will be required to stay 1,000 yards from any SRKW in Washington waters

This marks the highest number of whales that have been identified to be in poor condition during the 17 years of the SRKW health monitoring project. There are additional whales that also had shape profiles consistent with earlier stages of pregnancy when last imaged, but measurements indicated that they had not yet advanced to late stage (defined as the last six months of a 17-18 month pregnancy). The team will continue to monitor the success of these pregnancies and will hopefully document improvements in the body condition of the vulnerable whales.

Aerial images of J pod Southern Resident killer whales July (left) and April (right) 2024. Image obtained using an octocopter drone that was flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS research permit 22306 and DFO Research License MML-50.

SR3 Provides Veterinary Support to Pinniped Field Research Project

By Dr. Michelle Rivard, Veterinarian

Aerial view of the West Spit, Sable Island

This past winter, SR3’s veterinarian, Dr. Michelle Rivard, spent two months on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, contributing to gray seal research. Dr. Rivard has now made this trip two years in a row to collaborate on multiple projects studying seals in the wild, conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Texas Tech University, University of Alaska Fairbanks and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Dr. Rivard on a rainy day on Sable Island, with a weaned gray seal pup and wild horses in the background.

Not easily accessible to people, Sable Island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, 180 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is protected and managed by Parks Canada. The island is a narrow, crescent-shaped sandbar, approximately 26 miles long and only 0.75 miles across at its widest point. The island is home to hundreds of wild horses, as well as the largest gray seal colony in the world.

Gray seals live for 30-40 years and gather in large groups during the breeding season each winter. Every December to February, 400,000 gray seals aggregate on Sable Island to have their babies and mate, and about 80,000 pups are born each year on the sandy shores. Moms nurse their pups for approximately three weeks, during which time pups triple their birth weight! Pups typically wean at around 50 kg (110 lbs), at which time the mothers return to the ocean and the pup’s fat reserves help to sustain them throughout a post-nursing fast that can last for several weeks as they learn how to swim and hunt on their own. Gray seal pups are born with long, white fur that sheds around the time of weaning.

Gray seal mom and pup pair in the sand.

Sable Island provides a unique environment that gives researchers access to study gray seals in a location that is uninhabited by humans. Because Sable Island is home to such a large portion of the population, scientists are able to collect important life history data over the duration of an individual gray seal’s life. By permanently marking a subset of the animals, scientists can identify the same seal year after year and record important reproductive information about her and her pups.

Graduate students from Wood's Hole and Texas Tech University taking ultrasound measurements from sedated gray seal pup.

In addition to the population ecology work, there are multiple other research projects that are conducted to learn more about gray seal diet, movement, behavior, physiology and overall health. Dr. Rivard provided veterinary support to these projects to ensure safe and effective handling and sedation of the animals. Aside from gathering important data, these projects have provided the opportunity to refine pinniped field immobilization techniques to maximize human and animal safety while prioritizing animal welfare.

The invaluable information gathered throughout this field research allows scientists to model and predict changes to the population, develop techniques that can be used for future research projects, and has the potential to be applied to other pinniped populations throughout the world. Dr. Rivard was not only able to contribute her unique expertise to this project, but also learn from collaborators, transferring a knowledge base to the Pacific Northwest that we can apply to our local seals and sea lions.

Actions and photos permitted under Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Parks Canada.

The Sounders are Back

By Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director

SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban have had a successful start to their monitoring of the “Sounder” gray whales during their annual stopover in Puget Sound to feed on ghost shrimp. A remotely-controlled octocopter drone has been flown non-invasively to collect aerial images of 9 whales, all individuals that have been imaged and measured each year since 2020 to assess their nutritional health. These images allow the team to monitor changes in body condition between years, as well as within the year, before they continue their migration northward to their Arctic summer feeding grounds. Comparative data on individual condition is important to help guide conservation measures to maintain adequate seasonal prey availability for the Sounders and assess how individuals are faring after the end of the Unusual Mortality Event that has been impacting the population since 2019.

Aerial images of two “Sounder” gray whales photographed in March 2024. Note the differences in body condition of the two whales: the whale on the left is lean and the whale on the right is robust. Differences in body condition are quantified by measuring widths along the profile of the whale. Images were collected non-invasively using an octocopter drone flown at >150ft over the whales under NMFS research permits 22306.

Winter health monitoring update for SRKWs and Bigg’s killer whales

By Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director

SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban have been able to collect valuable winter data on the health of killer whales in the Salish Sea. This is the fifth year of winter monitoring and 17th year of the study for Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs), and the 10th year of the study for Bigg’s transient killer whales. So far, the team has used a remotely-controlled octocopter drone to non-invasively collect aerial images of most members of J-pod from the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population and a small group of Bigg’s killer whales. These images provide important data on seasonal changes in body condition for both ecotypes of killer whales. The team will continue collecting comparative data on killer whale condition throughout the year to monitor changes in condition and help guide conservation measures to maintain adequate year-round prey availability. The team just kicked off their annual monitoring for the local “Sounder” gray whales during their feeding stopover in Puget Sound. More updates to come!

Image showing an adult male Bigg’s killer whale (T123A) surfacing with the Robert Banks Superport in the background (left); and aerial image of the T123 matriline (right). Aerial image was collected non-invasively using an octocopter drone flown at >100ft over the whales. Research conducted under Department of Fisheries and Oceans License MML-50.

“Pupnapping” in the Puget Sound

By Kate Hruby, Communications Specialist

Human disturbance is one of the most common reasons patients come into care at SR3. From people and pets being in the same area as a marine mammal, all the way up to more direct interaction, there are many ways that people inevitably disrupt the natural behaviors of these wild animals. 

In the summer of 2023, SR3’s 23rd patient was a prime example of direct human interaction that led to a pup becoming separated from his mom before he could survive on his own. The pup, who would soon be known as Relish, was looking for a place to rest. As he swam around an occupied boat, the boat owners grew concerned about his small size and frequent vocalizations. The folks on the boat, though well-intentioned, picked Relish up out of the water and brought him on board, an action that is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The boaters called the Marine Mammal Stranding Network once Relish was aboard their vessel, and after our partners assessed the situation, he came to SR3. While we were able to provide care, it is always best to leave pups and moms together in the wild.

Relish rests in his first few days of care. He is shedding white fur that is an occasional trait of newborn harbor seals.

Along Washington’s coast and in the Salish Sea, harbor seals are born mostly from May to September. Pups nurse for 4-6 weeks on their mother’s fatty milk before they are ready to be on their own in the wild. They are born with the ability to swim, but this month of development helps them grow larger and learn to forage, doubling their body weight in that short period of time.

During these first few weeks of their life, a pup may rest alone on shore, rocks, docks, or other infrastructure for hours at a time while their mom is off swimming and feeding in the area. While apart, harbor seal pups communicate with their mother using a call that can sometimes sound distressed, but is completely normal.

Relish’s case is an extreme example of the ways humans can impact marine mammals, since just being near a seal pup while they are resting can cause the adult to abandon her pup. As the Puget Sound is home to millions of people, human disturbance leading to maternal separation is unfortunately something we see often in the region. SR3 has cared for dozens of animals linked to human disturbance since the Rescue Center opened in 2021.

Once Relish was at SR3, he was fed a harbor seal milk substitute for several weeks before he was introduced to fish, mimicking the length of time he would have been nursing in the wild. Once herring was brought into his meals, what we call Fish School, it took him another three weeks until he was eating the fish on his own and competing with his poolmates for prey. Two months into his care, he started to gain weight more quickly, and once he had gained enough weight to be released back to the wild, Relish was safely returned to the ocean. He was at the Rescue Center for 105 days.

Relish just before release, over 30 pounds larger than he was when he arrived at the Rescue Center.

 How can you keep moms and pups together in the wild?

1. Stay away: If you see a marine mammal, stay at least 100 yards away. If they turn to look at you, you’re too close!

2. Keep your pets on a leash: Pups of all kinds are curious, and keeping your pet on a leash ensures their safety along with the safety of the marine mammal.

3. Call the experts if you’re concerned: Call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 1-866-767-6114, to report the animal and its predicament. This way, trained responders can assess the situation.

4. Educate: Kindly alert others about the need to stay far away from the animal and keep their pets on a leash.

5. Whatever you do, don’t touch: Even if the animal looks like it is in distress, never interact with it. This causes more harm than good, and is also illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

New publication sheds light on how baleen whales locate their food

By Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director

SR3 collaborated with colleagues from 16 different research groups to publish a new paper titled “Morphology of nares associated with stereo-olfaction in baleen whales” in the prestigious scientific journal Biology Letters. The international research team used morphometric measurements from drone images of free-ranging whales to help understand how baleen whales locate prey patches in their marine habitats. Baleen whales have paired blowholes (nares) that allow for something called stereo-olfaction, where each nares operates independently of the other sending different signals to the brain that are then used to identify the direction of an odor. Fourteen baleen whale species were included in this study and a significant relationship was found between nares-width and whale trophic level (where they feed on the food chain). Baleen whale species with the largest nares-width corresponded with feeding on the lowest trophic level (zooplankton) and were best suited for stereo-olfaction. These findings provide evidence that some baleen whale species, like endangered North Atlantic right whales, may be able to localize odorants such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS), an odorous gas emitted by phytoplankton in response to grazing by zooplankton. However, this is also a conservation concern because biofouling on floating plastic debris also emits DMS, which could lead to incidental plastic ingestion by foraging baleen whales.

Aerial image of an open blowhole of a North Atlantic right whale in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Image taken using a drone during health research, authorized by permit # 17355 from the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service. Image by John Durban and Holly Fearnbach.

Another successful season in the Antarctic Peninsula!

By Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director

The SR3 team recently completed a successful research season in the Antarctic Peninsula onboard the M/V National Geographic Endurance. This research extends a long-term study to assess the health and population status of top predators (killer whales) and health of top consumers (humpback and minke whales) in the rapidly-warming waters around the Antarctic Peninsula. The team was able to collect aerial photogrammetry and photo-identification images of 25 individual Type B1 “pack ice” killer whales - 25% of the estimated abundance for this declining type of killer whale! Many of these individuals were first seen at the very start of the study in 2009! Several new B1 calves were documented, which is critical for population recovery, and one predation event on a Weddell seal, their preferred prey, was observed and imaged (see images below). The team was also able to collect photo-identification images of the abundant Type B2 “Gerlache Strait” killer whales and aerial photogrammetry images of humpback whales. Aerial images will be measured to monitor growth and body condition of individual whales, while photo-identification images will be used to estimate and monitor trends in population abundance over time. This research is funded by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund.

(Left) Aerial image of several young Type B1 killer whales sharing a recently killed and skinned Weddell seal and (Right) photo of a group of Type B1 killer whales traveling S of the Antarctic Circle. Aerial images were collected non-invasively from > 100ft above the whales using remotely-controlled hexacopter drone. Research conducted under NMFS Permit # 22306 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029.

First Adult Harbor Porpoise Cared for in the Pacific Northwest

By Kate Hruby, Communications Specialist

An animal husbandry staff feeds the harbor porpoise a fish under the water, while he is stabilized in his flotation sling.

Every patient that we treat arrives with a unique story, contributing valuable insights into the health of our shared oceans. By rescuing and caring for sick and injured animals, we deepen our understanding of the threats and challenges they face in the wild. 

SR3’s veterinarian, Dr. Michelle Rivard, takes an ultrasound of the harbor porpoise on the first night of his care.

For this harbor porpoise, his story started in South Puget Sound where he was found struggling in shallow water. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the scene, determined that he would not survive if left there, and transported him to SR3’s Rescue Center for further assessment. When he arrived, our immediate focus was on providing medical care to stabilize his condition, and conducting diagnostics such as bloodwork and ultrasound to thoroughly assess his health.

Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are challenging to rehabilitate due to their size, animal husbandry needs, and potential health issues that could be acquired during stranding or transport. This animal remained responsive throughout transport, and his clinical condition stabilized after he was provided initial supportive care. Based on this first medical assessment, we did not see a need for immediate humane euthanasia, as is so often the case for this species, and instead elected to continue rehabilitation. 

Cetaceans are also very time-intensive animals to care for; this harbor porpoise required someone in the pool with him at all times to monitor his behavior, guide his movements, and keep him comfortable in the sling we placed him in for flotation assistance. Our volunteers rose to the occasion, and we also reached out for support from many veterinarians and marine mammal rehabilitation staff along the West Coast. Despite this patient's extensive needs, we were able to maintain 24-hour care with the help of this incredible community.

A volunteer walks in a circle in the pool to give the porpoise constant movement.

While caring for him, it was clear that he was having some kind of neurologic issue, as he was unable to swim or stay upright on his own. To determine what may be the underlying cause of his condition, we began extensive diagnostic testing that included bloodwork, fecal samples, blow hole swabs, radiographs, ultrasounds and endoscopy. These tests showed us that he was free from many of the infectious diseases that we screened for, though he did have a moderate parasite burden. Initial radiographs were indicative of a past trauma or ongoing inflammation associated with his skull and nasal passages.

As we continued to treat him, we noticed some small improvement in his overall condition; he began eating on his own again and his strength increased. On his twelfth day in care, with his condition stabilized, we began to treat him for his parasitic infection by administering a deworming medication.

Later that evening, he began showing signs of stress and had a harder time eating than he had over the past few days. Guessing that his stress was due to the die off of the parasites, we gave him medication to help his body deal with that issue. Unfortunately, a couple of hours later, he began to have a seizure. When we were unable to control the seizures with medication, we decided humane euthanasia was in his best interest. Because he rapidly declined shortly after treatment of the parasites, it tracked closely with our concerns that parasites compromised his skull and normal neurologic functions. Due to the heavy parasite load, it became apparent that this was a condition we would not have been able to treat.

MRI of the harbor porpoise’s skull and brain, with the inner ears visible in the image.

CT scan of the harbor porpoise’s skull and brain, showing bony remodeling of part of his skull.

As with any of our patients that do not survive, our next steps were to try to learn as much as we could about what may have caused his stranding and his medical condition. CT scans and an MRI of his skull and brain were taken post-mortem, and a necropsy was performed to give us a clearer picture of what he might have been struggling with. We discovered he had a parasite that, while normally residing in the nose of a harbor porpoise, had migrated into his inner ear. This caused remodeling of bony structures of the skull and inflammation of the nasal passages, sinuses, and cranial nerves. The amount and location of parasites that were found explains his lack of balance in the water and other neurologic issues we observed.

While this patient didn’t make it, his journey has provided SR3 staff and volunteers with invaluable knowledge about the care of harbor porpoises and other small cetaceans. As additional test results come back, they will contribute to broader scientific knowledge of this species and could impact future conservation efforts. SR3 continues to stand ready and is more prepared than ever for the next stranded porpoise or dolphin who needs care.

Update from Antarctica!

By Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director

Aerial images of an adult male Type B1 killer whale (top) and a humpback whale feeding on krill after arriving on its Antarctic feeding grounds (bottom). Aerial images were collected non-invasively from > 100ft above the whales using remotely-controlled hexacopter drone. Research conducted under NMFS Permit # 22306 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029.

SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban, joined by their colleague Kiirsten Flynn, are off to a great start to this year’s installment of Antarctic research onboard the M/V National Geographic Endurance. The focus of this 15th year of research is to assess the health of whales in the rapidly warming waters around the Antarctic Peninsula. Since late November, the team has been able to collect photo-identification images of two groups of Type B2 killer whales and aerial photogrammetry and photo-identification images of two groups of Type B1 killer whales. Type B2 killer whales are the smallest type of killer whales around the Antarctic Peninsula, with the highest and most stable abundance. In contrast, Type B1 killer whales are larger in body size, but are the least abundant type with documented declines in abundance in recent years. The team has also collected aerial photogrammetry images of humpback whales which will be analyzed to estimate length and assess body condition.  Data collected this year will be integrated into SR3’s long-term monitoring dataset to monitor changes in growth, body condition and abundance of these populations over time, and use data on the health of whales to infer the health of the ecosystem which supports them. This research is supported by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund. More updates to come as this research continues…