Mysterious pod of killer whales never seen before visits Seattle
Three orcas that had not previously been recorded in the Seattle area have delighted whale watchers with several visits.
Updated on: April 6, 2026 / 6:27 AM EDT / CBS/AP
When tourists travel to Seattle, it's common to take in the Space Needle and the downtown skyline from Puget Sound.
It's an itinerary that a newly arrived pod of killer whales appears to be following too.
"People ... are all very happy to see this," said Hongming Zheng, who photographs whales in his spare time. It took him 10 hours of driving to find the mysterious pod. "It was epic."
Researchers keep detailed records of killer whales that frequent the Salish Sea, the waters between Washington state and Canada, by identifying their fins and saddle patches - the grayish markings on their sides.