MYNORTHWEST NEWS

NOAA has plans to capture sick orca, if necessary

Sep 12, 2018, 2:04 PM | Updated: 2:10 pm

orca...

Biologists attempt to feed J50 live salmon in early August. (NOAA West Coast Fisheries)

(NOAA West Coast Fisheries)

Federal wildlife experts are putting together a plan to capture the ailing orca, J50, nicknamed “Scarlet,” but they stress they would only do that as a “last resort.”

RELATED: Seattle market to stop selling chinook to help orcas

“We are preparing to rescue J50 if she ultimately is separated from her family unit or stranded alive and rescuing her is our only alternative that is before us,” Chris Yates, with NOAA Fisheries Assistant Regional Administrator.

Killer whales have strong family units and scientists don’t want to disrupt the J pod, part of the endangered southern resident killer whales.

Yates said their objective is that J50 survives in the wild and contributes to the recovery of the resident whales.

Scarlet is dangerously thin. Veterinarians have twice administered antibiotics to her, but they’ve seen no improvement and admit they don’t have a clear diagnosis for what’s causing her to be so ill. They had also planned to give her a dewormer, but have not been able to get close enough under the right weather conditions.

A “hands-on” examination would give them more information.

Veterinarians say J50’s survival is important.

“Because she’s an important part of the population, young, female, has the potential to be a functioning part of her family and contribute to the recovery of the population,” said Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries Marine Mammal Authorization Program.

KIRO Radio’s Jillian Raftery contributed to this report.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

6 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

7 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

9 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

9 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

10 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

13 hours ago

NOAA has plans to capture sick orca, if necessary