Salish Sea welcomes first Gray Whale of the season as 'Little Patch' returns
SALISH SEA, Wash. - The Salish Sea has welcomed its first North Puget Sound gray whale of the season, as 'Little Patch' made an early return. Just last week, a humpback whale breached in front of the Space Needle.
The whale, officially named CRC-53, spotted in Saratoga Passage on Dec. 11. This marks the fifth consecutive season Little Patch has returned in December or January, skipping the usual migration to Mexico.
"This is such a special time of year for residents of North Puget Sound because it provides an opportunity to see whales close to shore," said Serena Tierra, co-coordinator for Orca Network's Whale Sighting Network.
North Puget Sound "Sounders" gray whale CRC53 Little Patch, showing the patch on his flank that gives him his name, by Alex Zerbini, Cascadia Research Collective
The Sounders, a group of gray whales detouring from their migration between the Bering Sea and Baja California, are expected to arrive between January and April. First documented by Cascadia Research in 1990, Little Patch has been observed in the area for 26 years, primarily feeding on ghost shrimp around Whidbey and Camano Islands.
The gray whale population faced an unusual mortality event from 2019 to 2023, leading to thousands of deaths in the eastern North Pacific. During this period, the number of Sounders increased to nearly 20 as they discovered abundant ghost shrimp in the Salish Sea.
Vessel operators should adhere to Be Whale Wise guidelines slowing to under 7 knots and maintaining a distance of at least 100 yards from whales.
Public sightings provide crucial data, enabling Orca Network to alert volunteers and researchers. Reports are shared with Washington State Ferries to prevent ship strikes.
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