Group Of Orcas Swimming Near
Bremerton, Washington

Wednesday, May 19, 2004
BREMERTON, WA - A group of orcas that have made their way through Dyes Inlet have drawn whale watchers and their boats to the waters near Bremerton, Wash. And that has whale experts worried.

Experts with the Orca Conservancy are asking whale watchers to restrain from getting on a boat to see the creatures. Instead, they are urging people to watch them from the shore.

A group of at least a half dozen orcas at Dyes Inlet are swimming within yards of boats. The natural wonder brings back memories of 1997, when about 20 orcas from the L-pod spent several days eating salmon in the area.

That group was mobbed by as many as 500 boats filled with amateur whale watchers, a dangerous situation for orcas and people.

"The thing about Dyes Inlet is that you can go see these whales,” said Michael Harris, Orca Conservancy. “It's a great place to see them, from shore. It's not a good place to see them from a boat, particularly if they're transient orcas like we think they are."

The Orca Conservancy believes the orcas are hunting seals and the whales just do not need the added distraction of hundreds of boats. But the sight of the creatures is hard to resist.

"There was one really big one where the fin was as tall as I am standing in the boat,” said Ryan Gleeson, Bremerton resident. “A couple jumped out. They're just huge."

Whale experts with the Orca Conservancy are hoping the whales come in, feed, then go out quickly. Whale experts said if you are on the water near the orcas to keep about 100-yard distance from them.