Orca Pod's Unexpected Visit to Seattle Delights Whale Watchers
A pod of three orcas, previously unrecorded in the Seattle area, has captivated whale watchers with their recent appearances near downtown Seattle. These orcas, identified as T419, T420, and T421, have been seen cruising various shorelines in the region, including a notable visit to Vancouver, British Columbia, in March. Researchers, who maintain detailed records of killer whales in the Salish Sea, were surprised by the pod's presence, as they were not listed in local whale catalogs. The pod, consisting of an adult female and her two offspring, was previously photographed in Alaskan waters, suggesting a possible origin from the Aleutian region. The orcas bear circular scars from cookiecutter sharks, indicating time spent in the open ocean. 
