Ten Things You Can Do to Help Stop the Decline of the Southern Resident Orcas

1. STOP THE ORCA POISONING
   Scientific evidence has demonstrated that orca whales are threatened by the high levels of toxic contamination of their environment and food. It's time to ensure a safe marine habitat for orcas and all marine life. Demand that the "TOXIC SIX-SIXTY-TWO" (6 toxic sediment waste areas, 62 sites) be cleaned up immediately. Send a copy with a cover letter asking for action to your senators and congressmen.
   
   
2. ASSURE ORCAS' FOOD SUPPLY
   Chinook salmon are a mainstay in the southern resident orca diet. Adopt a salmon stream, river or even an entire watershed. There are organizations and grassroots efforts you can join for hands-on watershed restoration projects. Involve your family, church or other social group to join you.
   
   
3. SAVING WATER SAVES ORCAS
   The water we waste or save is essential to the salmon who in turn are essential to the survival of the southern resident Orcas. You can help by installing a water-saving device on every water source in your home now. Put an ORCa sticker above your home water sources to remind you to conserve. We'll send you a FREE ORCA STICKER when you register for the ORCa Action Alert list. Whenever you can, install fixtures such as showerheads that do better than the 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) that serves as the current industry and government standard. Reduce your use of hot water, make it a priority in your conservation efforts, as it will have the greatest return (energy + water) for effort.
   
   
4. SAVING ELECTRICITY SAVES ORCAS
   Buy one or two compact fluorescent bulbs every paycheck until your entire home is completely equipped. Electricity produced by hydropower uses the water salmon need to spawn. Without the salmon, the southern resident orca whales will become extinct. If you own a business, contact your utility today regarding the many programs that support, subsidize and help you plan your water and energy conservation. If you work at a business, encourage and practice conservation.
   
   
5. STOP TOXIC RUN-OFF
   Most of the toxics we use on our lawns and in our homes run off into rivers and the marine environment where salmon and orcas feed. You can reduce and eliminate toxic substances in your home and on your lawns, including cleaning products, lawn chemicals and pesticides. Use non-toxic alternatives and ensure that any toxic chemicals you have are taken to your nearest toxic waste disposal site.
   
   
6. GO SEE THE ORCAS, BUT MAKE SURE THAT THEY AREN'T DISTURBED
   The orcas' habitat is threatened by noise and disruption of their normal feeding, mating and social behavior. Engine exhaust may also be affecting their health. You can help -- make sure they are not disturbed by excessive boat traffic. When aboard your private water vessel, never approach or follow orca whales. Because state and federal regulations are insufficient to offset the number of whale/vessel interactions, keeping the required one hundred-yard distance is not enough. If you use whale-watching vessels, let the operator know that you do not need close-approach photos. Many operators feel pressure to provide an exciting encounter. Support them in making orca-friendly whale watching a success.
   
   
7. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE ORCA DECLINE
   Many people don't know that the orcas are in trouble. Write a letter to the editor.
   
8. SUPPORT THE LISTING OF ORCAS AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
   A petition has been filed with the National Marine Fisheries Service calling on the federal government to list the orca as endangered and increase levels of protection. It needs your federal representative and senators' support. Write to them today and ask them to contact Acting Assistant Administrator Dr. William Hogarth in support of federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. To find who your congressional representatives are and how to contact them.
   
   
9. MONITOR THE FATE OF THE SOUTHERN RESIDENT POD
   Orca Network provides the public with sighting information and reports on behavior of orcas and other marine mammals. You can get these updates by going to www.orcanetwork.org

   Click here to see the latest news of where orcas are and where they are going, and how each pod is doing. Click here to listen to orca vocalizations.
   
   

10. JOIN THE ORCA ACTION ALERT LIST
    Get involved. Take action. We'll keep you informed about things you can do and all the key developments in the campaign to save the orcas. We'll send you a free color orca whale sticker when you join our Action List.

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