During June, Greenbank-based Orca Network and others will join to educate the public and focus attention on the plight of the fragile Southern Resident orcas, to honor their presence in local waters, take action to improve conditions for their survival and hasten efforts to recover their population. The populations has been on the Endangered Species list since 2005.

On June 1, the first day of Orca Month as declared by Gov. Jay Inslee, Howard Garrett of Orca Network said, “J pod and the L12 subpod foraged and socialized all the way up Haro Strait to Boundary Pass today. They have their own schedule unbeknownst to us, but this is June 1, the first day of Orca Awareness Month for 2013.”

June is typically the month the three orca pods, J, K and L, return to the Salish Sea to greet each other, forage, socialize and play – all behaviors  observed off San Juan Island during these first few days of June, Orca Month.

Visit Orca Networks’ “Orca Month” webpage at www.orcanetwork.org/news/orcamonth.html for more information and a schedule of Orca Month events. Contact Orca Network to learn how you can participate in Orca Month contact info@orcanetwork.org or 1-866-ORCANET.