Human created noise hinders resident orcas' ability to hunt
As humans have built skyscrapers, factories and highways around the Puget Sound, our environment has become much noisier, and not just terrestrially.
Underwater, humans (and our large cargo ships) have a large sonic impact, too.
New research suggests that cacophony is hurting the survival of some of the original inhabitants of the Salish Sea: Southern Resident orca whales.
Orcas use a series of clicks and vocalizations to hunt down their favorite meal: Chinook Salmon. It’s sort of like a bat using echolocation.
A new study published in Global Change Biology by scientists at the University of Washington and NOAA shows how orcas’ hunting is affected by all that sound we create.
Guests:
Jennifer Tennessen, senior research scientist in the University of Washington’s Department of Biology
Relevant Links:
KUOW: Shhh! The orcas can’t hear their dinner
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Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington, and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
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Hans Anderson
Producer, Soundside
Hans Anderson is a producer on KUOW’s Soundside, where he covers a diverse range of topics from conflicts over how to use busy streets to how the open spaces of the Palouse inspire modern musical compositions. He primarily produces segments about politics, arts and transportation.
More stories from Hans Anderson »
