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SEATTLE – Where did they come from? And why are they here?<\/p>\n
Those are the questions researchers are asking as a small pod of unfamiliar killer whales<\/a> moves through the Salish Sea.<\/p>\n Mysterious orca spotted in the Salish Sea. (Orca Conservancy)<\/p>\n The backstory:<\/p>\n Over the past few weeks, scientists have been closely watching a group of orcas that had never been documented in these waters before.<\/p>\n According to SR3, a local nonprofit dedicated to marine wildlife<\/a> research and rehabilitation, the whales were first spotted in British Columbia before appearing in the Salish Sea.<\/p>\n The organization says that prior to their time in the region this week, the only time the whales had been documented was in Alaska in 2025.<\/p>\n Researchers have identified the trio as T420, T419 and T421.<\/p>\n T420, T419 and T421 spotted in the Salish Sea. (Orca Conservancy)<\/p>\n Timeline:<\/p>\n Scientists with the Orca Behavior Institute have been documenting the whales\u2019 movements.<\/p>\n The institute says the animals were first photographed in Anchorage in March 2025, marking the first time they had ever been documented.<\/p>\n This month, the whales were first spotted in Vancouver Harbor, before traveling south into Puget Sound.<\/p>\n Online the institute wrote: “After five decades of research, it\u2019s not often adult killer whales show up in the Salish Sea who don\u2019t match any of the existing photo ID catalogues.”<\/p>\n T420, T419 and T421 pod observed in the Salish Sea. (Orca Conservancy)<\/p>\n What they’re saying:<\/p>\n Researchers say the whales have what are known as “cookie cutter shark marks.”<\/p>\n Based on those markings, scientists believe the animals may have traveled from waters near the Gulf of Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, or the Bering Sea.<\/p>\n The whales are also believed to be mammal-eating killer whales, according to researchers.<\/p>\n The Orca Conservancy reports the whales have most recently been spotted as far south as Tacoma.<\/p>\n What’s next:<\/p>\n For now, scientists say the whales remain something of a mystery unusual visitors whose origins and reasons for traveling into the Salish Sea are still being studied.<\/p>\n MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE <\/p>\n WA double-murder suspect Samuel Ramirez Jr. captured, FBI Most Wanted<\/a><\/p>\n Arrest made in 2024 triple fatal Everett, WA hit and run<\/a><\/p>\n Former WA resident says she was victim of alleged License Express flaw<\/a><\/p>\n WA judge rules on media figures’ access to Capitol in Olympia<\/a><\/p>\n Seattle Mayor proposes $410M levy to fund city libraries<\/a><\/p>\n To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store<\/a> or Google Play Store<\/a> for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.<\/p>\n The Source: Information in this story came from SR3, the Orca Behavior Institute, the Orca Conservancy and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.<\/p>\n Orcas<\/a>Pets and Animals<\/a>News<\/a>Washington<\/a>Tacoma<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SEATTLE – Where did they come from? And why are they here? 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