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Marine mammals of northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca: a report on investigations November 1, 1977-October 31, 1978
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1979
[PDF-422.90 MB]
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Description:This report describes the results of the first year of a two year study designed to determine the abundance and distribution of marine mammals in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. An account describing each species of marine mammal in the study area was prepared with data collected during monthly aerial and small boat surveys and from an extensive literature review. The river otter (Lutra canadensis pacifica) is common in the area, and of the five pinnipeds that occur, only the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) is a year round resident. Haul out behavior was studied to determine optimum survey times and an estimate in excess of 1,600 was made for harbor seals in August, the highest estimate for any month. Two sea lions, the California sea lion (Zalophus Californianus) and northern sea lion .Eumetopias jubatus) are common during winter months. These two species arrive in the study area in October and leave by May. A maximum of over 260 individual sea lions were observed during 1977-1978. Fifteen species of cetaceans occur in these waters, most only rarely. Resident species include the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Dali porpoise (Phocoenoides dallii), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and the killer whale (Orcinus orca). The first two species are most frequently seen in the spring and summer months; the latter two occur year round.
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Rights Information:CC0 Public Domain
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