This year, for Giving Tuesday, we are setting the goal to raise $10,000. The funding generated from Giving Tuesday will help us with the work we do to recover the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whale population.
Eligible donors can DOUBLE their impact with employer matching! Check to see if you are eligible by clicking the Donate button and searching for your employer in the “Employer Donation Matching” box.
How does your donation support orca recovery efforts?
With your contribution, we will be able to continue and expand our projects and initiatives that are aimed at addressing the threats facing the Southern Residents, including:
-
Salmon Enhancement Projects
In 2025, Orca Conservancy acquired a second restoration parcel along Soos Creek in the Green–Duwamish watershed, a critical migration corridor for Chinook salmon. At both our CWA and Berrydale sites, we work alongside partners and community volunteers to remove invasive plants and replant the area with native trees and shrubs.
These restoration efforts help protect struggling salmon populations by cooling the water through increased shade, filtering harmful runoff before it reaches the creek, reducing erosion along the banks, and creating healthy riparian habitat that supports the insects young salmon depend on for food. By restoring this watershed, we’re strengthening the very foundation of the Southern Residents’ food web.
-
Research
Orca Conservancy is collaborating with leading researchers around the world on a study investigating how human-made pollutants impact the health and hormones of West Coast Transient (Bigg’s) killer whales. These whales are among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world. Because many of these contaminants can disrupt hormones and reproduction, this research focuses on analyzing blubber samples to better understand how toxic exposure affects development, stress response, and long-term health.
This work is especially important for the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales, who face many of the same pollution pressures. By understanding how contaminants are affecting Bigg’s killer whales, this research can help uncover the biological mechanisms that may also be impacting Southern Residents, which will be used to guide smarter conservation strategies, stronger regulations, and more effective recovery efforts moving forward.
-
Legislation and Policy
In response to recent rollbacks in federal conservation funding and proposed changes to key protections, Orca Conservancy has filed a petition with the State of California to list Southern Resident killer whales as an endangered species. While SRKWs are already protected federally and in Canada, Washington, and Oregon, this petition would extend those protections throughout their full habitat range — adding a crucial safety net as they migrate into California waters.
Alongside the CESA petition, we continue to closely track policy proposals, organize public action alerts, and provide detailed comments on draft legislation. We regularly engage with government representatives to ensure meaningful action is taken at both the state and federal levels to protect Southern Resident killer whales, restore wild salmon, and safeguard the ecosystems they rely on. -
Wildlife Monitoring & Public Resources
We are building high-quality, publicly available tools that empower people to learn about and engage with orca conservation from anywhere in the world. This year, we launched our first real-time webcam stream, allowing viewers to witness whale activity as it happens while contributing sightings that support noise-management and protection efforts on the water.
We also introduced the first-ever eye-patch identification guide for J Pod — a milestone in a project that will grow into a complete Southern Resident ID guide in 2026. These resources provide accurate, approachable information for whale watchers, students, researchers, and community members alike. By expanding public tools like these, we help foster a more informed and connected community of stewards dedicated to protecting the Southern Residents.
-
AI Hydrophones
Our AI Hydrophones Project uses hydrophones (underwater microphones) paired with artificial intelligence to automatically detect orca vocalizations in real time. When calls are detected, we can alert nearby entities, including commercial vessels and the military, to help reduce noise disturbance and the risk of vessel strikes. Our Sunset Bay hydrophone has also been selected by the State of Washington as a designated emergency-response hydrophone, supporting rapid action during critical incidents.
We are currently entering the permitting and application phase for a second hydrophone deployment in Seattle and are assessing additional sites in Rosario Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to expand the regional acoustic network and improve coverage across key orca habitat.
-
Emergency Response
Orca Conservancy staff maintains ongoing training and certifications to ensure our team is ready to assist during critical incidents involving orcas. Orca Conservancy is formally recognized by the state as an agency eligible to be called in for emergency response, including oil spills, wildlife hazing, strandings, and other high-risk situations.
In addition to staying response-ready, we are working toward creating free oil-spill prevention kits for boaters and marinas to help the public reduce their own risk of accidental pollution. Donor support helps us stay trained, equipped, and prepared to protect whales in the event of an emergency.
-
Education & Community Outreach
Sharing knowledge and building community engagement are essential to orca recovery. We host, attend, and speak at community events to educate people about Southern Resident killer whales, wild salmon, and actionable ways to help protect them. In 2025, we expanded our outreach efforts by presenting at schools, yacht clubs, and public gatherings across the region, tailoring content to each audience to make conservation science engaging and accessible.
Looking ahead, we are developing a formal request process so schools, educators, and community groups can easily invite Orca Conservancy for presentations, workshops, and classroom activities. Our growing library of age-appropriate lessons, visuals, and hands-on materials helps inspire the next generation of stewards and empowers communities with the knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact.
-
Water Temperature Testing
We partner with local organizations and community volunteers to gather water temperature data on the Snoqualmie River. Monitoring temperature is essential for understanding the health of local waterways, as warmer water can be lethal to salmon and other native species. By collecting this data, we help educate communities about the conditions in their own backyards while building a clearer picture of where restoration and habitat improvements are most urgently needed.
These ongoing measurements guide our future restoration projects by identifying high-risk areas, informing conservation priorities, and supporting long-term efforts to protect the cold, clean water that salmon depend on.
