We’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Department of Fish and Wildlife to celebrate Orca Month with an event at Campfire Coffee June 20th from 5PM to 8PM. We got to ask Aaron, the Orca expert at DFW who’ll be joining us on the 20th some questions about Orcas we think you’ll find the exciting informing and exciting! Check it out below.

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do.

My name is Aaron Provencio, and I am the Orca Outreach and Education Specialist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. I am originally from Colorado, and have been working in wildlife conservation for five years. I am passionate about educating people about the wonders of our natural world, and inspiring them to do their part to help conserve wildlife.

As the Orca Outreach and Education Specialist with WDFW, I get to travel all over the state talking to the public about all things Killer Whale! I have the chance to communicate about these incredible animals, and especially about the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) population which is classified as endangered. The SRKWs are under intense pressure from a number of threats, and WDFW and our numerous agency and non-governmental partners are working around the clock to address these threats and help protect these animals. It is my responsibility to educate the public about what conservation efforts are currently underway in the state, as well as what Washingtonians can do to help!

Where did your interest in Orcas and wildlife in general come from?

Growing up in Colorado in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, I spent a lot of my time in the outdoors. I was always interested in science, even when I was just a little kid, and slowly grew a fascination with the complex beauty of nature and all of its forms. From the tiniest spider building a web on my parent’s fence to the coyotes I could hear howling in the prairie behind my house each summer night, nature was all around me, and I felt both an immense amount of privilege, but also responsibility, to do what I could to protect our environment and share it with others.

It wasn’t until I took a trip with my family to Washington when I was a teenager that I was able to experience firsthand the magic of the Salish Sea. Exploring the moss-lined trails of the Hoh Rainforest, taking the ferry to San Juan Island, and seeing my first Gray Whale out at Cape Flattery on the Olympic Peninsula were moments that I’ll never forget.

Of course, it was impossible to spend any time in and around Washington without encountering pictures, symbols, and tales of the most iconic member of the Salish Sea ecosystem: the Killer Whale. These animals are highly intelligent, deeply social, and (especially in the case of the Southern Residents) have evolved so closely with their environment that they are, in many ways, symbolic representatives of the state and this region as a whole. As a conservationist, an animal lover, and a nature nerd I developed a profound fascination and respect for the Orca.

What are some fun facts you can share about Orcas that maybe people don't know?

Orcas are some of the most interesting animals on the planet, and I do mean the planet. Killer Whales are found in all oceans around the world, from Antarctica to the North Pole and everywhere in between. You’re just as likely to find them in the cold waters off of Iceland as the warm tropical climate of the Galapagos Archipelago. Here in Washington there are three distinct populations of Orca: the Southern Resident killer whales which historically spend a lot of time  in the Salish Sea, the Biggs’ or Transient Killer Whales, which range up and down the entire west coast of the U.S., and the offshore population that inhabit the deep ocean further out to sea.

They are incredibly intelligent, social animals, and the scientific community is still working to understand just how impressive their cognitive abilities really are. Like many members of the Dolphin family (yes Orcas are dolphins, not true whales) they have large brains and use a range of complex vocalizations that allow them to communicate complex information over great distances. This advanced communication aids in their forming of social groups, or pods, which make up their familial structure.

What makes Orcas so important to our environment?

As the top predator in the complex marine ecosystem of the Salish Sea, Orcas play an in incredibly important role in their environment. Firstly, it is important to distinguish Bigg’s (Transient) Killer whales from the Southern Residents. Southern Residents survive on a diet of only Salmon (especially Chinook) while Bigg’s eat other marine mammals such as Seals, Sea Lions, and even Porpoises if they can catch them.

As predators, Orcas from both ecotypes control the populations of their prey, and maintain a healthy order in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, the current lack of strong salmon populations in the region means that the SRKWs are no longer playing that ecological role to its full extent, but their historic impact on this ecological system can’t be overstated.

They are also highly valuable as part of our social environment. Not only do Orcas matter immensely to many residents of Washington, but they have been part of the cultural fabric of the region’s Indigenous peoples since time immemorial, and are considered to be relatives by some of the Tribes that call this area home.

To lose Orcas, and namely SRKW, from the Salish Sea would be catastrophic to the ecosystems’ delicate balance, and deal a massive blow to the cultural identity of this place.