6/22 Orca gang, Dozer, lege news, Tesoro fined, Shelton Hbr, energy cuts, Meadowdale restoration

Big brown bat [Ty Smedes/WDFW]

Bats of Washington
More than 15 species of bats live in Washington, from the common little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) to the rare Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii). Head to tail, bats range in length from the 2.5-inch-long canyon bat (Parastrellus hesperus), to the 6-inch long hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus). The hoary bat has a body approximately the size of a house sparrow and a wingspan of 17 inches. The species most often seen flying around human habitat include the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus), and California myotis (Myotis californicus). (WDFW)

Gangs of aggressive killer whales are shaking down Alaska fishing boats for their fish: report
The orcas will wait all day for a fisher to accumulate a catch of halibut, and then deftly rob them blind. They will relentlessly stalk individual fishing boats, sometimes forcing them back into port. Most chilling of all, this is new: After decades of relatively peaceful coexistence with cod and halibut fishers off the coast of Alaska, the region’s orcas appear to be turning on them in greater numbers. Tristan Hopper reports. (National Post)

Not just another pretty face
As Lauren Bacall leaves the room in “To Have and Have Not” she says to Humphrey Bogart, “You know how to whistle, don’t you? You just put your lips together and blow.” It’s a sensuous scene, one of cinema’s most famous. Well, Dozer, the reasonably svelte and handsome 24-year-old Pacific walrus knows how to whistle and it’s part of his repertoire in wooing the three females at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma. Alan Berner reports, (Seattle Times)

With government shutdown looming, Olympia heads into a third OT session
With lawmakers gridlocked over on a new budget and education funding, Gov. Jay Inslee Wednesday called a third special legislative session. Without a new budget, parts of the state government would shut down on July 1. Joseph O'Sullivan report. (Seattle Times) See also: B.C. Legislature set to return for first time since election  MLAs to elect speaker Thursday morning followed by government speech from the throne Richard Zussman reports. (CBC)

Ecology fines Tesoro Refinery, individual for pollution in 2016
The state Department of Ecology recently issued penalties for bacterial pollution released at March Point and for sediment that killed fish in the upper Samish River watershed in mid to late 2016. The Tesoro Anacortes Refinery at March Point was fined $5,000 for the release of excess fecal coliform bacteria in December. An individual who lives on Shaw Road in north Skagit County is being fined $4,000 for sending sediment into Barrel Springs Creek in August. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Simpson, Ecology agree to clean up Shelton Harbor
The Department of Ecology and Simpson Timber Company are beginning the process of cleaning up Shelton Harbor on Oakland Bay, after years of industrial activity has contaminated the harbor. The timber company has entered into an agreed order with the state agency to create, complete and submit a remedial investigation and feasibility study work plan, an interim action work plan, progress reports, a cleanup action plan and a final report to Ecology. Public comment on the agreed order and on the public participation plan will be accepted until June 26; the agreed order is available for viewing at the Shelton Timberland Library and online at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/gsp Arla Shephard Bullreports. (Kitsap Sun)

WA Republicans join Democrats in opposing Trump energy budget cuts
Both Democrats and Republicans pushed back against cuts proposed for the U.S. Department of Energy when Energy Secretary Rick Perry came to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Washington state Republicans criticized Trump administration proposals to lop one-fourth off efforts to clean up radioactive waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and sell off much of the Northwest’s high-voltage power grid. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Meadowdale Beach Park estuary restoration project would turn culvert into bridge
In a few years, Meadowdale Beach Park won’t end with railroad tracks and a culvert leading out to the beach. Instead, Snohomish County officials are planning to turn the area into an open estuary habitat with a more open access. The project has been in the works for a few years, county officials told a group of about 50 community members during an open house about the project on Wednesday night at Meadowdale High School. It is currently about 30 percent through its planning phase. Natalie Covate reports. (MyEdmondsNews.Com)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  243 AM PDT Thu Jun 22 2017  
TODAY  Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 6 ft at  9 seconds.
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.

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