Our Wild Puget Sound

Have you ever wondered how on earth people seem to find whales in Puget Sound all the time? Well, we're spilling all of our secrets so you can spot these wild orcas, humpbacks, grays, minkes + more for yourself. Happy searching, friends! Let us know what you find! 💕🐋

Imagine traveling 3,000 miles from the Russian Arctic just to spend winter in a muddy field in Washington. Honestly, we get it. They don't call it the Magic Skagit for nothin'. The snow geese are back!🪿

"On the U of Washington Bothell campus, a family of beavers has transformed a restored urban wetland — and challenged the grounds team responsible for managing it. Follow one student's investigation into how beavers reshape landscapes, support wetlands and help us withstand a changing climate..."

"Puget Sound has emerged as a haven during hard times for gray whales. The eastern North Pacific (ENP) population of the species is broadly considered a conservation success story, increasing from perhaps a few hundred individuals in the wake of industrial whaling to about 20,000 in 1994..."

Along with being as enviro-friendly as we can we're also trying to provide a more inclusive range of sizes for our tees and sweatshirts. Usually these are made to order and take a bit longer to ship, but we currently have 3XL + 4XL + 5XL white Chainsaw the Orca tees in stock + ready for you. 💕

“The Skagit originates in the B.C. Cascades but ever since the 1920s construction of the Gorge Dam the Canadian waters of the Skagit have been devoid of salmon. After decades of pressure the utility is now committing to design a plan to allow salmon to once again reach the upper river…”

"It's become an increasingly common event along the B.C. coastline to see these tropical species coming up to colder waters to seek refuge from the warming oceans…” “The underlying trend shows the shifts in species distribution are more than just seasonal, but part of an ongoing shift…”

Today on @opb.org's The Evergreen: When Rachel Heaton started exploring Mount Tahoma — aka Mount Rainier — she noticed the lack of Indigenous presence there. It inspired her to lead an all-Native youth climb up the mountain to Camp Muir. “I want visibility of Native people back on the mountain."

Shuksan showing off (again)

Artist, scientist, educator, curator—Jill Pelto, art director of the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project, does it all. eos.org/features/jil...

We went on a search last night to see if we could cross paths with the Noocksack elk herd and it worked out! This herd is fascinating as it's a genetic mix of both native Roosevelt Elk and introduced Rocky Mountain Elk, with most of the current members having primarily Rocky Mountain Elk genes.

🧡🐣🧡 Tue, Sep 29 New calf at T36A1's side continues their 1st foray in their Puget Sound home waters. Official ID to come, but likely is Tierna's 2nd. Per Bart Rulon: "...still fetal folds visible on the dorsal fin so this calf is probably only days or weeks old". 📸 By Jami Cantrell 9/28. #psws

They're baaaaack! Every winter 10s of thousands of snow geese descend on the Skagit Valley from their nesting grounds in the Arctic to feast for the winter. We generally see them start to arrive in mid-October, but we have some early arrivals this year!

🧡💜 Mon, Sep 28 Yesterday: T36A1s + T137s found Indy in Carr Inlet & traveled about South Puget Sound together ending their day in Case Inlet. Likely still inland this morn. 📷 Have wanted to share this sublime image since Aug: T077s in Puget Sound under Mt Baker. By Hongming Zheng 8/23. #psws

September around Puget Sound means dropping everything on a perfect day to soak up the sun and get into the mountains before the roads are closed and the rain is here. 🏔️💕

Have you ever seen these bizarre looking cylinders on the beach at low tide? They're opalescent squid egg sacs and if you look close enough in the right light you can see the individual eggs inside each cylinder. They're laid in clusters but occasionally they get dislodged and end up on shore. 🦑

Noon Salish Sea Whale Update: Gray whales + a Minke in Puget Sound Bigg's Orcas in the San Juans, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Strait of Georgia + Howe Sound Pacific White-sided Dolphins in Port Angeles Harbor + Northern Strait of Georgia Humpbacks literally everywhere Join the party here:

A little nature magic on the shores of Puget Sound.

♥️💞♥️ Sat, Sep 5 J pod moved up Admiralty Inlet in resting mode, awoke in a lively lovely breach-fest south of Bush Pt (Skunk Bay video), continued along Whidbey, exited inland Puget Sound waters, headed NW & ended their Friday off west San Juan Island at nightfall. ♥️ #psws youtu.be/vEXGv-IhyMI?...

The Northern Harrier might just be the Skagit Valley mascot. 💕

Members of the Southern Resident Killer Whales are currently traveling northbound in Haro Strait, off the west side of San Juan Island, and can currently be seen on the Lime Kiln State Park webcam: www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2kJ...

PSST: Everett friends! There are orcas in the marina if you want to go say hello!

Orcas have already popped up in the Hood Canal and Central Puget Sound this morning. Yesterday we had some little orca adventurers make their way all the way to the Ballard locks, so who knows where they’ll explore today! Come hang on Discord to discuss all things Salish Sea: discord.gg/ap8m2dMQXK

💌♦️💌 Thu, Aug 6 Tuesday's Bigg's orcas stayed over into Wednesday w/the T36/36Bs & T137A exiting Puget Sound in the afternoon & the others, T65As (incl. Indy ♥️) & T46 group, remaining inland through evening at least. 📷 T137A Jack just before splashdown. ♥️ his pec fins! By Julie Davis 8/4. #psws

A sweet little moment with this 2026 calf, T046B8/Pi, and their mom, T046B/Raksha off Lummi Island last night.

Stacks on stacks. One thing I miss about commercial photography is how it connected me with some of the coolest, most creative minds. @ourwildpugetsound.com is doing that in a different way and all of these tea towels are heading out to a really cool hyper-local food event, which feels perfect.

Swimming in salmon (tea towels) over here. 💕🐟

We have some thoughts about this map, Bob 🤨

If you’re wondering where the whales are today, the answer is everywhere. 🫍🐋🐳

Swallows generally have zero chill, but these two are next level.

Word on the water is that there was a giant orca party in the middle of the Strait of Juan de Fuca today with some of the Salish Sea’s favorite Bigg’s Killer Whale fams! 💕🫍

Low tide beach hangs. 💕

Sending some Chainsaws out into the world. 💕🫍

"BC, Canada & six coastal First Nations are celebrating a historic agreement to establish a new marine conservation area reserve. The reserve encompasses one of the richest marine environments in the world & will be called Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon meaning “Realm of the Salmon, Home of the Salmon.”

Can you believe we live here? What a dream.

🫧💚🫧 Sun, May 31 🦭Who today? Yesterday's lovely whales: T64Bs & T65As in Hood Canal; T137s in S Puget Sound; humpback Smoke + calf in S PS to N of Kingston; 2nd cow/calf pair incoming Admiralty to N Puget Sound; gray in Possession! 📷 During a hunt in Hood Canal. By April Basham 5/30. #psws

Streeeeeeetch

"The steep decline indicates many compounding environmental pressures, she said: lack of snowpack, new diseases, increasing predators and human recreation. If management practices don’t change, there is a real possibility these populations could be wiped in the near future..." @salish-current.org

Reports of orcas all over Puget Sound this morning. We’re keeping tabs on Discord and would love to know if you see any! 💕🫍 discord.gg/yFFAuDWZq

We're constantly trying new ideas for the shop — testing out designs, ink colors, new techniques, etc. We used to list these shirts individually, but we don't quite have time for that anymore, so instead we decided to make them available as a mystery box! www.ourwildpugetsound.com/shop/p/test-...