J pod at XIXNEŚETEṈ (Helen Point, Active Pass)

November 21, 2025

On November 21 our team set out with word that SRKW has passed San Juan Island in the wee hours of the morning and were detected on hydrophones. There was news of fins being spotted at ŚÁ,NES (Turn Point) so we headed towards Swanson Channel. We saw fins near Thieves Bay, and continued north ahead of the whales to XIXNEŚETEṈ (Helen Point, Active Pass). Two team members hit the shore while the other two went around the corner to anchor our vessel to remove it as a source of disturbance to the whales. We watched as they approached, spyhopping and tail lobbing in ONEWEȽ (Village Bay) before continuing to us at XIXNEŚETEṈ. With our cameras and hydrophone set up, we observed the pod as they travelled North into Active Pass.

During this encounter, we observed a wound at the base of J45s dorsal fin. This has been reported to DFO. The cause of J45’s wound is not conclusive. While this wound resembles that of an interaction with a vessel, it could also have been caused by an interaction with another killer whale. We are grateful to have had eyes on the water and the ability to alert other researchers and observers to further track and monitor this injury. Any wound has the potential to lead to an infection and our best hopes are for J45 to heal promptly and without intervention.

We will always take the opportunity to highlight the risks of vessels around whales. QENTOL,YEN urges all vessel operators and mariners to operate with extreme vigilance and care. The risk of vessel strike persists for all cetaceans so long as vessels are in the vicinity. Our message remains for all mariners to practice caution whenever venturing out to sea and be aware of marine life.

All photos are taken with a 200-600 zoom lens.