Welcome to The Whale Trail Point Robinson 1 Keystone 2 Pt. Townsend Marrowstone I. 4 3 Langley Whidbey Island 7 Admiralty 5 (Killer whale) (Orcinus orca) (Megaptera Novaeangliae) (Phoca vitulina) Orca Humpback Whale Harbor Seal Inlet Everett Length: Adult 26 ft • 23 ft • Calf 8 ft Length: Adult 49 ft • 60 ft • Calf 16 ft Length: Adult 6 ft • Pup 3 ft Point Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin Humpback whales are known for their complex Harbor seals are the most common 6 No Point family. Highly intelligent and social, they live in songs, and long pectoral fins. Their yearly migration is marine mammal in the Pacific Northwest. tightly bonded family groups their entire lives. the longest of any mammal. Listed as endangered in Pups are left on the beach while their Puget Three pods of fish-eating orcas (J, K and L) 1973, the population is slowly recovering. Individuals mother feeds for extended periods; 8 are resident to Washington State. These iconic © Jeff Hogan can be identified by the patterns on their tail flukes. please stay at least 100 yards away. Sound © Jeff Hogan mammals were listed as Endangered in 2005. Kingston Edmonds 9 Hood Canal Point Robinson Indianola 1012 Dosewallips Port State Park 12 Madison 11 1013 Point Robinson is an ideal place to watch marine mammals. Strong currents create a deep natural Bainbridge (Phocoena phocoena) Island Harbor Porpoise River Otter channel that stirs up nutrients and attracts schools of 1514 Length: Adult 5 ft • Calf 30 in (Lontra canadensis) baitfish. The baitfish, in turn, attract salmon and marine 21 Seattle Harbor porpoise travel in small Length: Adult (with tail) 4-5 ft Pup 4.5 in mammals close to shore. Sometimes orcas are just 15 groups of up to ten animals. 20 They are often seen hunting River otters are a common sight along yards from the beach! Bremerton baitfish such as smelt and herring. shorelines, especially at dawn and dusk. © John Calombokidis Unlike sea otters, they swim on their Whale Trail sites 1617 bellies and are found in fresh and salt Fall and winter are the best times of year to see Southworth Fauntleroy © Phil Green water throughout the Pacific Northwest. resident orcas—usually J and K pods—as they follow Educational facilities salmon into the Sound. Transient orcas hunt marine Viewing sites Three Tree Point Mammals you can expect to see in this marine environment Vashon mammals, and might be seen any time of year. Orcas 1 Fort Casey State Park Olalla KVI 2 Port Townsend Marine Science Center Colvos22 Passage Beach Often seen Occasionally seen can be identified by their saddle-patches, their dorsal 3 Bush Point 4 Langley 1817 Des Moines fins, and their calls. 5 Double Bluff 6 Point No Point Lighthouse Park Gig Harbor You Are Here Humpback whales are making a comeback on the 7 Jetty Island 8 Stamm Overlook Park 19 Dash Point Pacific Coast, and are increasingly seen in south Puget 9 Marina Beach 10 Richmond Beach Saltwater Park HARBOR SEAL RIVER OTTER HARBOR PORPOISE ORCA (KILLER WHALE) DALL’S PORPOISE STELLER SEA LION Sound. Playful harbor seals and foraging river otters 11 Dosewallips State Park can be seen almost any time of year. 12 Poulsbo Marine Science Center 18 Rarely seen 13 Fay Bainbridge Park Tacoma 14 The Seattle Aquarium Please leave this treasure as you find it. Shells, rocks, 15 Alki Beach 16 Lincoln Park and driftwood should be left in place so this habitat can 17 Point Robinson For a complete list of continue to flourish. 18 Titlow Beach Park 19 Point Defiance State Park Whale Trail sites go to GRAY WHALE SEA OTTER PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN CALIFORNIA SEA LION MINKE WHALE (Peak periods March - September) HUMPBACK WHALE 20 Fort Ward www.thewhaletrail.org 21 Rockaway Beach The Whale Trail is a nonprofit organization in partnership with 22 Lisabuela Park Ecosystems in trouble You can help Keep your distance Washington State Ferries Orcas and salmon are icons of the Pacific Everyone has a role to play in protecting our marine Enjoy watching marine wildlife without causing Northwest. But they face an uncertain future due environment. Commit to treading lightly on the earth. them harm or placing your personal safety at to pollution, loss of habitat, and the threat of oil Volunteer on projects to restore and preserve our risk. View animals from a distance where they spills. Fishing, shellfishing, recreation and human salmon runs and watersheds, educate yourself and won't be disturbed. Don't touch, feed or chase health all depend on healthy ecosystems. your community, and ask public decision makers to wildlife. Keep pets leashed and away from support strong shoreline protections. marine animals..