Encounter #003 • February 6, 2009 • J, K, L Pods

All three pods were eastbound. They spent until at least February 9 in interior waters of the Salish Sea with J’s and L’s going at least as far as Nanaimo where Dr. John Ford (DFO) encountered them on February 8. Ken Balcomb saw probable K pod off Port Angeles on February 7 and heading south in Haro Strait on February 9. There were two new babies documented (one in J, and one in L), but we will have to wait to see if they survive and consult with Dr. John Ford before reporting the additions. At least one adult whale was missing in this encounter. K and L pods were previously documented off Depoe Bay, Oregon from January 20 and 24, 2009; and J pod was documented off Trial Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca on January 23, 2009. It is exceptional to have all three pods in the Salish Sea at this time of year, when for the past seven years K and L pods have been off Monterey, California in late January/early February.