A group of orca whales was photographed swimming in Bellingham Bay on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
Bellingham resident Anne Burnett captured photos and videos of the whales at about 11:20 a.m. as they were swimming near the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven.<\/p>\n
\u201cI noticed a collection of seagulls hovering around the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven and a splash in the water near the pier, then spotted the orcas surfacing occasionally,\u201d Burnett told The Bellingham Herald.<\/p>\n
An orca whale was seen swimming near kayakers and a boat in Bellingham Bay on June 4, 2026. Anne Burnett Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald <\/p>\n
Burnett said she was able to see the whaled from her home near Fairhaven. Several orcas can be seen in the photos and videos. Burnett said she suspected four or more whales in the pod, based on what she saw.<\/p>\n
Burnett watched the orcas swim past nearby boats and a group of kayakers before continuing in the direction of Boulevard Park. She said she lost sight of them by about 11:35 a.m.<\/p>\n
Burnett said she saw orcas in captivity as a child, but this was her first time seeing them in the wild.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty exciting seeing them in their natural habitat,\u201d Burnett told The Herald.<\/p>\n
An orca whale was seen swimming near a boat in Bellingham Bay on June 4, 2026. Anne Burnett Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald <\/p>\n
Burnett posted the sighting to the social media Nextdoor, where the videos had received a handful of comments in just a couple of hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo AWESOME!!\u201d one commenter said.<\/p>\n
All whales are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act<\/a>. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<\/a> (NOAA) urges members of the public to observe marine animals from a safe and respectful distance, and to not approach or touch them.<\/p>\n People should remain at least 100 yards \u2014 the length of a football field \u2014 away from whales. Federal law requires vessels to remain 200 yards away from killer whales in Washington inland waters.<\/p>\n This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 3:34 PM.<\/p>\n