VASHON ISLAND, Wash. — A Seattle woman is sharing her experience after spending the night on a Vashon Island beach capturing a special moment with her favorite animal.
Jami Cantrell, an Orca Network volunteer, said she headed to Vashon Island on Nov. 5 because she had a hunch the southern resident orcas would be making an appearance as they follow chum salmon around this time.
Cantrell captured the J-Pod swimming in Quartermaster Harbor. Because of unusual behavior among the pod, Cantrell said she and another enthusiast decided to spend the night on the beach.
“They weren't really foraging or didn't seem to be foraging their time there. They were just kind of going in a circle in the bay. And so due to the strange nature of their behavior, a fellow orca fanatic, and I decided to just stay the night with them and listen,” said Cantrell. “The way that they were behaving, it was, like, it was something that's only been really seen in significant events. So, it felt to a lot of people that know the pod, like they were having some sort of ceremony, whether good or bad. It was, I just feel blessed to have been able to be there.”
Cantrell stressed the need for boaters and kayakers to keep their distance to create a safe environment for the beloved southern resident orcas.
“So, it's been proven that when people are out in their boats and their kayaks around the southern residents, because they rely so heavily on sound, they actually forge less when there are boats and kayakers around and that's why the law just changed to 1,000 yards,” said Cantrell. "I really want to make it emphasize that the southern residents come here less than more. You know, we need to give the correct information so that way the public can help."
J-Pod seen near Vashon Island on Nov. 5
