Members of the J Pod were spotted Tuesday afternoon off Blake Island as we learn that a member of the K Pod has likely died. The news about the missing orca comes from the Center For Whale Research on San Juan Island.

Lobo, or K26, will likely be declared deceased on Orca Conservancy's next census. That will bring the K pod down to 14 members. It brings the entire Southern Resident killer whale population down to 72, which is the lowest it has been since 2020.

A Southern Resident orca that was last seen over the summer has been reported missing, researchers said. Last week, the non-profit Orca Conservancy said K26 Lobo, a 31-year-old male and member of the K14 matriline, was last seen in July. The K14 matriline ...