The Whale Trail
Organizational History
Springer (A73) Rescued
Orphaned orca A73 Springer discovered near Seattle. Six months later she was successfully rescued, rehabilitated and reunited with her family on the north end of Vancouver Island. Orphan Orca Fund leads community fundraising efforts.
SRKW Listed as Endangered
Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) are listed as endangered by NOAA Fisheries. If current population trend worsens or stays the same, J, K and L pods could go extinct in as few as 100 years.
Whale Trail Founded
Core team meets for the first time. Founding team includes NOAA Fisheries, WDFW, People for Puget Sound, Seattle Aquarium, and Whale Museum. Mission and goals established. Sixteen inaugural sites selected.
First Signs Installed
Whale Trail inaugurated at Salt Creek Recreation Area with welcome by Lower Elwha Klallam tribe. Signs funded by ALEA grant.
Non-Profit Status
Recognized as a 501c3 non-profit organization.
First Orca Talk
John Calambokidis launches our long-running lecture series with a talk about gray whales, held at the Duwamish Longhouse
PTMSC Sign, and Orca Bingo!
Our largest sign is hung on the exterior wall of PTMSC. We invent Orca Bingo and play for the first time at the sign dedication!
Washington State Ferry Signs
Two signs posted on every Washington State ferry and one at every terminal!
West Seattle Signs Added
Four new signs funded by City of Seattle Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF)
Orca Steward Program Piloted
Citizen steward training in West Seattle funded by City of Seattle Neighborhood Matching Fund
Celebrate Springer 2012
Tenth anniversary of Springer’s homecoming celebrated in Seattle, Vancouver, and Telegraph Cove, BC
Whale Trail Hosts Erich Hoyt
Author and marine conservationist gives his first lecture in PNW in more than 40 years.
Springer’s first calf!
Springer is spotted with her first calf on the central BC coast! The calf survives her first year and is named Spirit.
Kalaloch – First Sign on Pacific Coast
New signs including Kalaloch Lodge in Olympic National Park (ONP) installed in partnership with OCNMS and ONP.
Orca Tour 2014
TWT produces lecture tour featuring Erich Hoyt. We travel from Saturna BC to Monterey CA – 9 cities, 4 states, 2 countries in 2 weeks. Co-hosted by SIMRES, ACS Oregon, PTMSC, OCNMS, NMS West Coast Region and the Georgia Strait Alliance. We travel with Mike, a life-size replica of J26!
First signs in California
New signs at Point Lobos, Point Reyes, and Santa Cruz – southern end of SRKW range!! Funded by NMS West Coast Region.
British Columbia Team Forms
We partner with BC Cetacean Sighting Network to promote shore-based whale watching in BC.
First signs in BC
Interpretive panels installed in Vancouver, Southern Gulf Islands, Uclulet and Telegraph Cove. Southern Gulf Islands fund and install custom Whale Trail markers.
Orca Tour 2015
A new tour with Erich Hoyt, featuring stops in Saturna, Sydney, Olympia, Tacoma and Seattle.
New Signs on Central California Coast
Cayucos, Avila, Los Osos/Baywood, Oceano Dunes/Nipomo, Montana de Oro State Park! Partners include Stewardship Travel, Highway One Discovery Route, California State Parks and more.
Springer seen with Second Calf
DFO team spots Springer, Spirit and a new calf in Whale Channel!
Celebrate Springer 2017
Team gathers on Vashon Island and Telegraph Cove to celebrate 15th anniversary!
Five new signs in BC
Funded by Patagonia/World Wildlife Fund
3 new signs in Washington
Faye Bainbridge, Point Robinson and Point Defiance. Funded by WDFW Enforcement.
La Ruta de las Ballenas
Mexico team forms!
First sign on Oregon Coast
At beautiful Don Davis Park, Partners: American Cetacean Society Oregon Chapter, Hallmark Resorts and City of Newport
New Web Site Launches
We start our second decade with a new look! Thanks to Lucky 7 Foundation, NOAA Fisheries, developers Casey McSpadden and Jamie Shairrick, and volunteers Faye Kennedy, Anderson, Karen Sinclair and many others for making it possible.
Northern California Signs Added
Hollings Award from National Marine Sanctuary Foundation funds 11 new signs!