Orcas

First orca whale to be stranded in southeast U.S. in decades showed signs of illness

A killer whale more than 20 feet long died after beaching itself in Palm Coast, Fla. This is the third known orca to be stranded in the southeastern U.S. and the first since 1956, an official says.

KUOW Blog

Fishing boat lifted out of orca waters after 5 weeks on sea floor

A salvage team successfully lifted the Aleutian Isle onto a barge Wednesday afternoon, more than five weeks after the fishing boat sank into the depths off San Juan Island.

KUOW Blog

Coast Guard postpones effort to remove sunken fishing boat after lifting it to surface

Salvage crews have been unable to remove enough fuel and seawater from the Aleutian Isle to lift it onto a barge and transport it away from the critical orca habitat where it sank five weeks ago.

‘Incredibly lucky:' Endangered orcas dodge diesel spill off San Juan Island

A fishing boat carrying 2,600 gallons of fuel sank off the west side of San Juan Island, spreading an oily sheen for 2 miles in critical habitat for the Northwest’s endangered orcas. Researchers called it “incredibly lucky” that the whales and the diesel apparently never crossed paths.

The Miami Seaquarium is ending shows with Lolita, its 56-year-old orca

Lolita was captured five decades ago in the Puget Sound. Animal rights activists say she's the oldest orca in captivity and should live her final years back home in a seaside sanctuary.