According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the stress related to the fear and anxiety surrounding the health, social, and economic implications of this pandemic, is real. One thing they suggest to combat this is to spend time focusing on something positive. We recommend the ocean.
Giving Thanks for Bill Ruckelshaus
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Ruckelshaus, first and fifth head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Deputy Attorney General of the U.S., acting Director of the FBI, a Member of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, founding Chair of the Puget Sound Partnership and the recipient of the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He served four Presidents and three Governors and was mentor and friend to both me and the SeaDoc Society.
I first met Bill when he played an instrumental role in setting up Washington’s Puget Sound Partnership under Governor Gregoire. Over the years, I was so impressed that a person of his stature and intellect always graciously took time to answer my questions and guide be on policy and process needed to improve the health of the Salish Sea for the benefit of people, wildlife and our economy.
Is Southern Resident Killer Whale Tahlequah (J35) really mourning?
By Joe Gaydos. For more than a week, a female Southern Resident Killer Whale has been carrying her dead calf around the Salish Sea.
J35, the 20-year-old orca also known as Tahlequah, gave birth on July 24th, but the baby girl died just a short time later. Since then, people around the world have watched as this young mother has appeared to grieve.
Primates, including Gelada baboons, Japanese macaques, chimpanzees and mountain gorillas have been shown to carry around dead babies even though, as one researcher commented, it "is a waste of energy and seems to be of no benefit to the mother."