SEATTLE — Orca sightings around Puget Sound have been on the rise the last couple months, according to a whale expert.
"The stars aligned, the planets aligned, everything in the universe just worked out perfectly that day," said Kat Martin.
Kat Martin, 23, snapped several pictures and videos of orcas making their way around Vashon Island last Sunday.
"It makes my heart and soul happy,” said Martin. “Especially to see how many are hanging around these days, decades ago this wasn't a common occurrence."
Martin, who lives in Mount Vernon, said her love for the orcas has been present throughout her whole life. She said she grew up in this room flooded with whale pictures which eventually, inspired her to become a "killer whale artist," inspired by what she's seen in western Washington.
"There are orcas everywhere, in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea over toward Whidbey east side, west side, they're just everywhere," said Martin.
Whale experts like Dr. David Bain, the chief scientist of Seattle-based Orca Conservancy, a nonprofit organization focusing on protecting killer whales, acknowledge there's been a slight increase in sightings year over year. Especially during the fall months.
"Our fish-eating whales are taking advantage of fall runs that are healthier than our summer runs,” said Dr. Bain. “Our mammal-eating killer whales are taking advantage of the growing seal and sea lion population, so they get to spend more time in Puget Sound than they used to."
Dr. Bain said another factor leading to the increase in sightings is due to social media pages that notify people when there are whale sightings.
Whale advocates alike hope people will respect these animals and give them space if they ever encounter them.
“Everybody here loves these animals and hope that more people can have the opportunity to see them," said Martin.