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EncDate:12/09/24 

EncSeq:91

Sequence:1

ObservBegin:10:50 AM

ObservEnd:12:35 PM

Vessel:KCB III

Staff:Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Other Observers:Alondra Caro Ruiz, Arlene Vargas, Taylor Redmond

Pods:Bigg's killer whales

LocationDescr:south end of Lopez Island

Start Latitude:48 26.18

Start Longitude:122 55.77

End Latitude:48 25.33

End Longitude:122 47.29

EncSummary:

The morning started with a report of a group of whales heading east off Eagle Point. We gathered our gear, headed to Snug Harbor and left in KCB3 at 1017. We headed down island and made it on scene by about 1050. The whales had been reported as the T137s and others and they were heading east near the south side of Long Island. The whales were mostly in a single tight group although T137A and maybe another whale or two were trailing the others when we arrived. We got the drone up for a couple of flights as the whales traveled east along the south side of Lopez Island. The trailing whales caught up with the group and, other then one jag to the south off Iceberg Point, they all continued east. The other whales besides the T137s ended up being the T36s, T124Ds, and T124A1. The whales were being somewhat social as they traveled. After the whales passed Davidson Rock, they angled northeast up Rosario Strait off the southeast corner of Lopez Island. We left this group at 1235 just east of Watmough Head.

Another nice group of Bigg’s had been reported heading west in Guemes Channel and we decided to go check out those whales next. See Encounter 92-2.

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 27038/DFO SARA 388