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BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Southern Resident killer whales have not had enough food for several years, which could affect their already small numbers. That’s according to a study by the University of British Columbia.
Researchers looked at the availability of prey for Northeastern Pacific Southern Resident killer whales. The study found a fluctuating level of salmon from spawning areas on rivers had a detrimental effect on killer whale health, threatening a small and fragile group of whales.
About 75 of the Southern Resident killer whales span from the California coast to British Columbia’s Queen Charlotte Islands.
But a decrease in salmon threatens that population.
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