Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea Pinnipeds: Cetaceans: Seals & Sea Lions Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise

Seal Pups Orca (or Killer Whale) Pacific Harbor Seal Orcinus orca Phoca vitulina Black body with white chin, belly, and eyepatch Average 21-24’/3-6 tons Adults mottled tan or blue-gray with dark spots Visible blow 10-15’, adult males dorsal fin 5-6’ Male: 6’/300 lbs; Female: 5’/200 pounds Southern Resident orcas (salmon-eating) listed as Earless (internal ears, with external hole) Endangered, usually seen in pods of 5-50 Short fur-covered flippers, nails at end Often seen in Puget Sound during fall, off San Drags rear flippers behind body Juan Islands/Georgia Strait in summer; Vocalization: “maah” (pups only) Transient (marine mammal-eating) orcas Most common marine mammal in Puget Sound If you see a seal pup usually in pods of 1-5; seen year around Shy, but curious. Pupping occurs June/July alone on the beach Northern Elephant Seal DO NOT DISTURB Mirounga angustirostris it’s the law! Brownish-gray Human approach can stress the pup Male: 10-12’/5,000 lbs; Female: 8-9’/900 lbs. and scare the mother away. Internal ears (slight hole) For your safety and the health of the pup, Harbor Porpoise Short fur-covered flippers, nails at end leave the pup alone. Do not touch! Drags rear flippers behind body Phocoena phocoena Vocalization: Guttural growl or belch Dark gray or black Dall’s Porpoise Increasing in the Salish Sea with lighter sides and belly Average 5-6’/120 lbs. Phocoenoides dalli Travels alone or groups of 2-10 Black body/white belly and sides White on dorsal fin trailing edge Average 6-7’/300 lbs. Travels alone or in groups of 2-20 Creates “rooster tail” spray Likes to bow-ride Gray Whale California Sea Lion Eschrichtius robustus Humpback Whale Zalophus californianus Gray with white mottling/barnacles Dark brown to black No dorsal fin, has “knuckles” or knobs on back Megaptera Novaeangliae Male: 8’/800 lbs; Female: 6’/250 lbs. Average 40-45’/30-35 tons, heart-shaped blow Black/dark gray, light belly Extended, rolled flap ears Small resident population feeds in Saratoga White under flippers, 15-20’ visible blow Long leathery flippers, nails mid-flipper Passage and Possession Sound March through May, Small dorsal fin, Knobs on front of head Walks on all four flippers; doglike bark stragglers seen here year-round Travels alone or in small groups Mainly male California sea lions seen from fall to Average 40-45’/30-40 tons spring in the Puget Sound region Often breaches or flipper-slaps GOT WHALES? Call 1-866-ORCANET (672-2638) To Report Whale Sightings

Steller Sea Lion REPORT DEAD OR STRANDED Eumetopias jubatus MARINE MAMMALS TO: Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Light to golden brown 1-866-ORCANET (672-2638) Black/dark gray, light undersides, white patch on flippers. Male: 9-12’/1500-2000 lbs. Whidbey and Camano Islands, Small, sleek body, pointed head Female: 6-7’/600-700 lbs. Skagit and North Snohomish Counties Weak, but visible, bushy blow 8-10’ Extended, rolled flap ears (All other areas call 206-526-6733) Long leathery flippers with nails mid-flipper Travels alone or in small groups Walks on all four flippers; lion-like roar www.orcanetwork.org Average 26-28’/6-8 tons Listed under the Endangered Species Act www.orcanetwork.org/strandings.html Short curved dorsal fin Illustrations by Uko Gorter