10/18 Sea otter, L25, Tokitae necropsy, Nelson’s checker-mallow, Indigenous incarceration

Sea otter [Marshall Hedin/WikiMedia]

 
Sea otter Enhydra lutris
The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg, making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. (Wikipedia)

The oldest Puget Sound orca: L25 may be approaching 100
L25 is the world’s oldest known living wild orca, the uncontested reigning matriarch of the southern resident orcas that frequent Puget Sound. She ascended to that post after the death of J2, in 2017 at an estimated age of 105. No one knows exactly how old L25 is, said Michael Weiss, research director of the nonprofit Center for Whale Research. But “our best estimate is she is approaching 100 years old right now,” Weiss said. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

What killed Lolita? Necropsy findings released for the Seaquarium’s beloved orca
The Seaquarium’s beloved performing killer whale, Lolita, appears to have died of old age and multiple chronic illnesses, according to the executive summary of her necropsy released Tuesday afternoon to the Miami Herald. Lolita, also known as Tokitae or Toki, died Aug. 18 at the age of 57. Her carcass was swiftly packed in ice and driven to the University of Georgia, where a necropsy was completed on Aug. 19. In initial reports, the Seaquarium cited kidney failure as the cause of death. That finding appears to be backed up by the documents released by the Seaquarium on Tuesday. Alex Harris and Linda Robertson report. (Miami Herald)

Wildflower in Oregon and southwest Washington removed from federal protection
A Northwest wildflower that was classified 30 years ago as threatened under the Endangered Species Act no longer needs that protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday that Nelson’s checker-mallow will be coming off the Endangered Species list 30 days after the upcoming notice appears in the Federal Register. Lynne Terry reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Indigenous people in WA incarcerated at higher rates than any other group, data show
Washington in recent years imprisoned Indigenous people at more than six times the rate of white people.  That’s according to U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics data that the Prison Policy Initiative assembled and released last month. The 2021 figures posted by the advocacy group are the most recent information available. Native peoples make up about 2% of the state’s population and 5% of the state prison population. While Washington state incarcerates fewer people than most states, it also incarcerates a higher rate of Indigenous people than much of the nation. Grace Deng reports. (Washington State Standard)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  207 AM PDT Wed Oct 18 2023   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING   TODAY  S wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 11 ft at 11 seconds  subsiding to 5 ft at 11 seconds in the afternoon. Rain likely in  the morning then rain in the afternoon. Patchy fog in the  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft  at 11 seconds building to 12 ft at 15 seconds after midnight.  Rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

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