Shared home: Orca in shared waters

The Publisher's Message

The home of the southern resident orcas and the salmon is our home too. And when they thrive, so will we.

Lynda V. Mapes, known for her award-winning Seattle Times series “Hostile Waters,” delves deeper into the world of the southern resident orcas in her latest work. Through interviews with scientists and members of Northwest Native tribes, Mapes sheds light on the challenges these whales face in Puget Sound. She emphasizes the crucial connection between the orcas and chinook salmon, their primary food source, as well as their broader impact on the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest.

The story extends beyond Puget Sound, reaching Central California where the chinook salmon runs have drastically declined. Mapes also examines the orcas thriving in British Columbia, with Mount Baker serving as a stunning backdrop for iconic female orca K20, born in 1986. These powerful creatures can swim up to 75 miles a day and reach speeds of 30 miles per hour, diving as deep as 3,000 feet.

In May 2018, a gathering in Bellingham, Washington, showcased a totem pole carved by the Lummi Nation to raise awareness about the plight of killer whales in Puget Sound. The author herself has been on assignment with the southern resident orcas, capturing moments with J, K, and L pods in November 2018 and witnessing their return to local waters in the fall of 2019.

This book will not only inform but also inspire action through a public education and impact campaign led by Lynda V. Mapes and Braided River, the conservation imprint of Mountaineers Books. To learn more, visit www.orca-story.org.

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