Mysterious & shy: the Harbor Porpoise
When Seal Sitters first responders John and Victoria responded to a report of a deceased harbor porpoise on a West Seattle beach in April, it was an opportunity to learn more about this elusive animal. Our partner organization SR3 collected the carcass for necropsy in an effort to determine the cause of death. Results will be filed with NOAA ’s database of marine mammal health.
A different harbor porpoise, a juvenile, being examined by Jessie Huggins of Cascadia Research Collective in 2013. Cascadia is a foremost marine mammal research institute based in Olympia and a member of NOAA’s stranding network.
Credit: Lynn Shimamoto
Harbor porpoise | Photo credit: Marine Mammal Center
About Harbor Porpises
Harbor porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, are the smallest of the cetaceans, reaching a length of 5 to 5-1/2 feet. Their small black dorsal fins are sometimes seen from shore as they travel in family groups of 2 to 10 animals. Harbor porpoises are not endangered or threatened, and from being nearly non-existent in the 1970s, their numbers have rebounded. Like all marine mammals, they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
If you’d like to see more research on harbor porpoises, check out Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam).
“Founded in 2014, PacMam is one of only a handful of organizations worldwide conducting long-term non-invasive research and monitoring of harbor porpoise population.”
PacMam uses photo-ID and behavioral monitoring to study harbor porpoises and harbor seals in the Salish Sea.
Seal Sitters thanks the homeowner who reported the harbor porpoise to our hotline at 206-905-SEAL (7325). All reports of stranded marine mammals contribute to further knowledge of their health and population trends.
