Sports
Eight Wolverines honored in winter sports awards page9
Scene
’Barefoot Bandit’ captured — in print page 11
Editorial Award-winning documentary “ Miss Representation” exposes media slant page 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Vol. 105 Issue 11
of the San Juan Islands
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Change in store for Discover Pass Revisions advance to governor’s desk By Maida Suljevic WNPA Olympia News Bureau
Journal photo /Scott Rasmussen
Dr. Joe Gaydos of SeaDoc Society dissects the head of L112 in an ongoing search for clues in the untimely death of a 3-yearold killer whale, March 6, at the Friday Harbor Labs.
Digging deep for clues Speculation grows around cause of killer whale’s death By Scott Rasmussen
With the body of evidence still under scrutiny, local biologists remain guarded about whether the recent death of a 3-year-old killer whale is the result of unnatural causes. But some local killer whale experts are ready to draw their own conclusions. “It didn’t die of disease or starvation,” Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research said of the young female killer whale, known as L112 at the center. “Clearly the animal was blown up.” Balcomb, director of the San Juan Island-based killer whale
research center, contends signs of trauma on the body and on the head and, more importantly, among the tissues in the rear of the killer whale’s jaw are strikingly similar to those of the injuries that he witnessed in a group of stranded beaked whales several years ago in the Bahamas. He said those whales stranded themselves on a beach shortly after a military ship traveling in the same vicinity passed by with its sonar engaged. “Basically it’s what happens when you blow up the head of a whale,” Balcomb said of L112 injuries. The body of L112, also known as “Sooke” was found on a beach just north of Long Beach, Wash., on Feb. 11. Its body was battered bloodied and bruised, and biologists estimate it had been dead several days at the most. Sooke was a member of the Southern resident
killer whales, which make their seasonal home in the San Juans and were declared endanagered under federal law in 2005. According to Amy Traxler, coordinator of the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, its injuries appeared inconsistent with those expected if the young female had been attacked by more powerful, predatory killer whales. She said that the injuries also are mostly inconsistent with those that occur when a killer whale, or a marine mammal, is fatally struck by a ship. A team of biologists performed a necropsy on the carcass of the killer whale immediately after it was discovered on the beach. Tissues samples were taken and its head removed so that a CT scan could be conducted on its skull. The National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal agency in charge See necropsy, Page 4
A bill to revise a 2011 law concerning recreational land access pass program that helps create additional operation funds for state parks was approved March 8, clearing the House and moving to the governor’s desk for final approval. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2373 was originally sponsored this session by Democrat Representatives Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger, both 24th District legislators living in Sequim. An amended version passed the Senate March 6, and the House March 7. The bill proposes changes to the Discover Pass, which was created during last year’s legislative session and implemented in July. It is required on every vehicle that parks on state recreational lands. An annual pass costs $30 while a day-use pass costs $10. Vehicles failing to display the pass are subject to a $99 fine. Revenue generated by the pass is distributed to Washington state Parks, the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources. The measure approved by the Legislature includes a variety of changes, including the transferability of the pass between two vehicles. The access pass would provide space for two license plate numbers, and become active once it has been marked rather than when purchased. Officials at state Parks, DFW and DNR would also be able to create a family pass, fully transferable between vehicles. The legislation stipulates that the price of
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
that pass must not exceed $50. The measure also expands a donation program. When vehicle owners renew their license plate tabs, a $5 donation is included in the total cost. It allows owners to opt-out of the charge, and also expands the donation program to include licenses for mopeds, offroad vehicles, trucks and buses. State Parks is granted discretion when accommodating events. Park officials may waive the pass or set fees they deem appropriate. State Parks is also granted the authority to use pay stations to collect fees and sell the pass. Park patrons deposit the payment, using cash or check, in the pay box and a parks’ employee collects the money daily. The measure is on its way to the governor’s desk for final approval.
MARCH 2012
ATE REALanEIslST ands in the
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