Pod of Orcas

Human feet have been washing up on beaches in the Pacific Northwest's Salish Sea since at least 2007. But why? Turns out there are scientific explanations for "why feet?" and "why here?"

The answer sheds light on why the ecosystem's name—The Salish Sea—is important, and why place names matter in general.

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GUESTS:

Erika Engelhaupt, author of Gory Details

- https://erikaengelhaupt.com/gory-details-book/

- x.com/GoryErika

David Trimbach, Conservation Social Scientist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

- https://davidtrimbach.com/current/

Join the whole SeaDoc Society team as we reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024. Thanks for listening to the show and for supporting our work.

All gifts will be doubled thanks for two generous donor families: seadocsociety.org

Thank you!

This is the story of a mysterious fish that washed up on Orcas Island on July 11, 2023. That fish was a six-foot long Pacific bluefin tuna—a species that had never in history been documented in the inland waters of the Salish Sea. Bluefin are a delicacy that can sell for millions of dollars. Why was it here?

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Available through Sunday at FLOAT.org!

Our guest today is Kevin Campion, founder of Deep Green Wilderness and a board member for the SeaDoc Society.

In this episode we talk about the North Pacific Right Whale. Kevin and his crew have made an excellent new film called Right Over the Edge—all about their search for this elusive and severely endangered species, which used to number in the 10s of thousands and now is down to about 30. 

The SeaDoc Society will be hosting a free screening of the movie on Orcas Island on the evening of Thursday May 18th at the SeaView Theatre. That event marks the in-person return of our popular Ocean Night series. Put it on your calendar and join us!

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RIGHT WHALE RESOURCES

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SCREENINGS

May 18 at 7pm at the SeaView Theatre on Orcas Island Ocean Night: https://www.facebook.com/events/558844049702732/

May 20 at 7:30pm at the San Juan Island Yacht Club, San Juan Island

This episode is about kelp and seaweed in the Salish Sea, and more specifically whether it is safe for human consumption. Our guest is Jennifer Hahn, who has a unique and adventurous childhood story, and in adulthood kayaked solo through Alaska’s Inside Passage. She’s the author of Pacific Feast: A Cook’s Guide to West Coast Foraging and Cuisine, in which kelp is featured heavily.

When Jenny started teaching classes about kelp throughout the region, she’d often get asked if it was safe to eat. Eventually that brought her into contact with SeaDoc Society Science Director Joe Gaydos. That sets in motion the scientific study you’ll hear about in this episode! In addition to Jenny’s wildlife adventures, we’ll unpack the findings of the study and her close collaboration with Tribes and First Nations from start to finish on the project. 

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This episode is about social media at the intersection of science, nature, conservation, and nonprofit work. More specifically it’s about Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and a state agency that has leveraged social media beautifully as a way to get their word out. Our guest is Rachel Terlep, Social Media Manager for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Twitter / Instagram / Facebook). Note: We had this conversation about four hours before Twitter entered a state of crazy flux on November 17, 2022. Here are some DNR hits: 

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Join us virtually on September 15, 2022 from 5:30 to 6:30pm for a special evening with the SeaDoc Society! This is not only our big annual fundraiser, but also a fun evening of science, storytelling, and entertainment. Our theme is Home—from our shared planet all the way down to the smallest of Salish Sea ecosystems. Registration for the event (which will be hosted on Zoom) is open now!

Registration is deductible as a donation. This level will remain open until the start of the event. $5

REGISTER: seadocsociety.org/donate

Welcome to Part 2 of our episode about Hope with Elin Kelsey. In this episode we talk about Southern Resident Killer Whales, why we shouldn't put our climate responsibility on young children, environmental fatalism, and individuals vs. corporations as it relates to a healthy planet and Salish Sea. 

Register for our virtual event at seadocsociety.org/event. 

Elin Kelsey is the author of Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis. The whole SeaDoc staff has read the book, and to say it has inspired us would be a huge understatement. Kelsey, PhD, is a leading spokesperson, scholar and educator in the area of evidence-based hope.

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Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter.

We're back for Season 2, and we’re kicking things off with a conversation about Hope! The doom-and-gloom of the endless news cycle can convince you that our planet is as good as dead. This conversation with Elin Kelsey, author of Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis, will make you rethink that. The whole SeaDoc staff has read the book, and to say it has inspired us would be a huge understatement. Kelsey, PhD, is a leading spokesperson, scholar and educator in the area of evidence-based hope.

Support our work: seadocsociety.org/donate

Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter.