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Orca pod veers into Budd Inlet

The Olympian • Published September 03, 2009

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A group of orcas wandered south in Budd and Eld inlets toward Olympia on Thursday.

Erin Falcone of Cascadia Research said the five transient orcas were three adults and two juveniles.

Cascadia Research had a team that included Falcone and Greg Schorr observing the animals. Falcone said that state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials also were on the water.

Falcone said the Cascadia team had acquired identification data and would compare its observations with information on transient orcas to determine where the animals might have been sighted before.

She urged boaters to observe the animals from a distance.

“As long as boaters stay out of their way, they’re pretty safe,” she said. “They’re the top of the food chain down here.”

Farther north, whale experts with the Marine Stranding Network are seeking help to find a dead orca calf that was spotted by a boater Sunday off Orcas Island.

Network veterinarian Joe Gaydos said retrieving it could provide valuable information about the orca population.

Anyone finding the carcass is asked to call the Stranding Network at 1-800-562-8832.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.