Orcas have always been a highly visible part of the northwest's cultural and ecological heritage. Once considered problematic pests by fishermen, they began to gain protection in the 1970s. But human actions still threaten these animals and the ecosystem we both share.

Geographic range: Sightline's wildlife index tracks the southern resident orcas that inhabit the inland seas of Washington and British Columbia. They generally reside in the Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia, but migrate seasonally through the inland waters of the Northwest.

What orcas tell us: The fate of orcas is closely linked to human impacts on the region. Although no longer victims of outright hostility, orcas still face many man-made threats such as water contamination, decreasing salmon stocks, and stress from heavy marine traffic.

How the orcas are doing: Some hope for the future; serious worries for now.

• The good news: Strict protection measures helped restore the southern resident orca population from 70 in 1976 to about 90 resident orcas. And researchers have confirmed three orca calves last year and two new ones this season, which makes nine new orcas since October 2004, one of the biggest population increases since the whales have been closely monitored.

• The bad news: While the new baby boom is a welcome development, the southern resident population is nowhere near historic levels. Living next door to millions of people and their industry, orcas are constantly exposed to high levels of toxic contamination; scientists consider them among the most contaminated marine mammals on earth. Their main source of food, salmon, are still too scarce.

What to do: Orcas were taken under the protective umbrella of the Endangered Species Act at the end of 2005, which will help maintain this population. Other measures to protect them include restored salmon runs, cleaner water, and toxic clean-ups--which is good not just for orcas but for people and the hundreds of other species that inhabit the Northwest.

Check  the wildlife section of our daily blog for more on orcas.

More resources

Defenders of Wildlife

Earthjustice orca project

The Orca Network

The Center for Whale Research