Puget Sound offers year-round opportunities to see a wide range of marine wildlife, with species presence varying by season and movement patterns.

Harbor porpoises and Dall’s porpoises can be seen throughout the year. Minke whales are present but remain very rare in Puget Sound.

Transient killer whales, also known as Bigg’s or mammal-eating orcas, are present year-round. These orcas are highly mobile and can travel up to 60 miles in a single day, but they regularly move through Puget Sound and the greater Salish Sea, giving us consistent opportunities to encounter them.

Humpback whales are now seen in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea most of the year, with the highest likelihood of sightings between May and October, when feeding activity peaks.

Gray whales are most commonly observed in the region during their spring migration, particularly from March through June. In recent years, a small group of gray whales known as the “Sounders” has been documented feeding in Puget Sound for extended periods, allowing for occasional summer sightings as well.

Southern Resident killer whales are also present year-round but are critically endangered, with approximately 73 individuals remaining. We do not actively search for or follow Southern Resident orcas.

Sea lions, including Steller sea lions and California sea lions, as well as harbor seals, can be seen year-round throughout Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. Bald eagles are a common sight in all seasons, along with a variety of pelagic and coastal bird species. Year-round and seasonal birdlife may include tufted puffins, brown pelicans, cormorants, gulls, murres, and other seabirds that frequent the Salish Sea ecosystem.