health
Mysterious pod of killer whales never seen before visits Seattle
Updated on: April 6, 2026 / 6:27 AM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- A pod of three killer whales, not previously recorded in the Seattle area, has been frequently sighted in Puget Sound.
- Researchers identified the orcas by their fins and saddle patches, noting they are not in local catalogs.
- The pod is believed to be an adult female and her two offspring, possibly from Alaska, identified as T419, T420, and T421.
- Circular scars from cookie-cutter sharks indicate the whales have spent time in the open ocean.
- The pod likely visits the Salish Sea to feed on sea mammals, such as seals and sea lions, as they do not eat salmon.
- Previous sightings of killer whales in Seattle waters include a pod hunting a seal in November and another swimming close to shore in March 2025.