January 8, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 3A
Aquarium staff
says sea turtle is
‘hanging in there’
Exploring one of the earth’s most
elusive and remarkable creatures
Awe-inspiring creatures
are threatened
of different ecotypes. Some
scientists believe the cultural
and genetic differences be-
tween the ecotypes are so pro-
nounced they are fundamen-
By Katherine Lacaze
tally different species.
Seaside Signal
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SEASIDE — Seattle-based there are three different types
investigative journalist and of orcas: the southern orcas
author David Neiwert knows who reside along the entire
a lot about orcas, or killer :HVW &RDVW %LJJ¶V RU WUDQ-
whales, some of which he sient, orcas; and offshore or-
shared during a presentation cas. There are multiple other
on his recently published populations elsewhere across
book, “Of Orcas and Men: the world.
Orcas are very empathetic
What Killer Whales Can
Teach Us,” at the Seaside Pub- and intelligent, Neiwert said.
They have a capacity for echo-
lic Library.
More than two dozen au- location that is akin to a sixth
dience members left the pre- sense.
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sentation Thursday having
learned a thing or two about delve into how deep and com-
the carnivorous mammals, as plex this sense is,” Neiwert
well. They learned the scien- said.
Their societies are complex
WL¿F QDPH 2UFLQXV RUFD UH-
ÀHFWV :HVWHUQ FLYLOL]DWLRQ¶V and matriarchal. The mam-
early fear of the whales, as mals have a unique sense of
the Latin roughly translates self, different from what land
into killer or messenger from mammals experience, he said.
“We tend to experience
hell. They also learned orcas
are successful predators in the things as individuals,” Neiw-
waters they roam and have ert said. “Their sense of self
is really bound up in each
complex social structures.
Neiwert, the author of sev- other. This is why their pods
eral books and a contributing are so important, so critical to
writer for the Southern Pover- their social lives. They remain
ty Law Center, is a longtime with their families their entire
nature enthusiast. “Of Orcas lives.”
and Men” combined scientif-
ic research, cultural history A changing
and environmental reporting perception
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The human relationship
most elusive and remarkable to orcas has varied through-
creatures.
out time and cultures. Some
“These creatures inspire coastal indigenous cultures
awe, even when you see them respected the orcas as their an-
in captivity, behind the glass cestors and creatures of great
and concrete tank,” Neiwert spiritual and physical power.
VDLG ³7KH\¶UH VWLOO VR ODUJH The Greeks saw orcas as ter-
and so beautiful and so intelli- rifying and demonic messen-
gent that they have a real pres- gers of hell, the antithesis of
ence about them.”
angelic and sacred dolphins
— although orcas are part of
Smart and sensitive
the oceanic dolphin family. By
Orcas inhabit every ocean the 20th century, it was not un-
on the planet and are the apex XVXDOIRUSHRSOHLQWKH3DFL¿F
predator in those environ- Northwest to shoot orcas, Nei-
ments, Neiwert said. Their wert said. The movie “Orca,”
success is aided by their social produced by Dino De Lau-
structures and enormous size rentiis, shows how little the
— adult male orcas grow to be general public knew about the
about 32 feet long and weigh mammals, even into the 1970s.
Many people interact only
between 12,000 and 14,000
pounds and adult female orcas with orcas in captivity, which
grow to be about 24 feet long is “nothing like seeing the
and 8,000 pounds. Orcas orig- animal in its real element,”
inally were grouped into one said Neiwert, who has spent a
species, but scientists since lot of time observing and re-
have learned they are part of searching the orcas in the Pa-
a species complex, comprised FL¿F1RUWKZHVW
EO Media Group Staff
KATHERINE LACAZE PHOTO/SEASIDE SIGNAL
Seattle-based author and investigative journalist David Neiwert
gives a presentation on orcas at the Seaside Public Library Thurs-
day. He shared information from his recently published book,
“Of Orcas and Men: What Killer Whales Can Teach Us,” about
the history of orcas and their relationship to various cultures
throughout history.
The initial captivity of or-
cas, such as Namu, one of the
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in an aquarium in the 1960s,
helped change the public
perception of the mammals.
Many people became enam-
ored with them, perceiving
them as sort of aquatic panda
bears, Neiwert said. For the
orcas, however, putting them
in SeaWorld theme parks, the
Miami Seaquarium and other
marine parks is detrimental
because of their size, intel-
ligence and complex social
structure. Their life spans
RQ DYHUDJH DUH VLJQL¿FDQW-
ly shorter; they exhibit signs
of frustration, grinding their
teeth or, on rare occasions,
harming humans in their
tanks, Neiwert said.
Some people in the cap-
tive-orca industry disagree
the environment negatively
affects the mammals. They
claim they are educating chil-
dren about orcas. However,
the presentations give limited
information about the whales
themselves, Neiwert said.
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selling is this spectacle: the
spectacle of humans seeming-
ly controlling these large and
amazing animals,” he said.
³%XWDOOWKHWUDLQHUV,¶YHHYHU
talked to, that have left Sea-
:RUOGZLOOWHOO\RXLW¶VSXUHO\
an illusion. The orcas are very
much in charge.”
One whale taken from the
Puget Sound named Tokitae,
renamed Lolita, remains in
captivity in the Miami Sea-
quarium, and there is a cam-
paign for her release. She is
the only whale from a batch of
about 58 southern orcas taken
in the 1970s that still lives; the
others died.
From other efforts to reha-
bilitate and reintegrate whales
who got lost or were put in
captivity, scientists believe it
is very important for the orcas
to be reunited with their na-
tal pods. Is it possible Lolita
would recognize her family
after a roughly 40-year sep-
aration? Neiwert said they
GRQ¶W NQRZ GH¿QLWLYHO\ EXW
giving it a try would help sci-
entists learn a lot about orcas.
And he believes Lolita would
be better off, no matter the
outcome.
When groups took the 58
southern orcas, like Lolita,
to sell to SeaWorld and other
marine parks, it was discov-
ered there only were 78 re-
maining. Because they were
catching young calves, they
removed nearly an entire gen-
eration and the population has
not recovered, Neiwert said.
A hypothermic sea turtle rescued in Cannon
Beach in mid-December and taken to the Seattle
Aquarium for treatment is doing better, spurring a
little optimism, according to aquarium staff.
As of early January, the turtle was still alive.
Keith Chandler, general manager of the Seaside
Aquarium, contacted the Seattle Aquarium, where
the turtle was taken after being rescued Dec. 14,
and he was told staff was “hopeful” about the tur-
WOH¶VUHFRYHU\,WLVXQGHUWKHFDUHRI'U/HVDQQD
/DKQHU6HDWWOH$TXDULXP¶VYHWHULQDULDQ
Staff at the Seaside Aquarium rescued the male
olive ridley sea turtle after it washed ashore south
of Tolovana, likely pushed into colder waters by
recent strong winds, aquarium Administrative As-
sistant Tiffany Boothe said. Juvenile olive ridleys
sometimes travel in warm currents offshore.
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SULVHGWR¿QGRQH´%RRWKHVDLG
Seaside Aquarium staff wrapped turtle in blan-
kets and slowly warmed it to avoid shock while
awaiting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pickup.
Live turtles are normally taken to the Oregon
Coast Aquarium in Newport, but aquarium staff are
DOUHDG\UHKDELOLWDWLQJRQHIRXQGLQ3DFL¿F&LW\HDU-
OLHU WKLV PRQWK 1HZSRUW DQG 6HDWWOH¶V DTXDULXPV
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ties authorized to provide the care sea turtles need.
Chandler said the survival chances for Tolova-
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RIWHQLQMXUHGLQWKHVXUIWKHUH¶VDWRSHUFHQW
mortality rate for the turtles.
But if the Tolovana turtle survives, it will also be
released into Californian waters. The reptiles often
hitch a ride with an agency such as the U.S. Coast
Guard during a training trip, said Laura Todd, New-
port Field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
6KHQRWHGWKDW&DQQRQ%HDFK¶VWXUWOHZDVDW
GHJUHHVZKHQLWDUULYHGLQ6HDWWOH7KHWXUWOH¶VQRU-
mal temperature is in the low 70s.
Sea life rescuers expect to see more of the en-
dangered turtles beached along the coast with this
\HDU¶V(O1LxR7RGGVDLGWKHWXUWOHVQRUPDOO\UH-
main south of San Diego. However, she added, they
do sometimes travel farther north in warm currents
searching for food.
³:KHQWKHFRQGLWLRQVDUHULJKWIRURQHWKH\¶UH
right for several,” Chandler said.
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coast. Three were dead upon arrival and one died
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San Diego.
On Monday, Dec. 21, two more olive ridley tur-
tles arrived in the area, one in Seaview, Wash., and
the other near Del Rey Beach, bringing the total to
four for this year. Both were transported to the Ore-
gon Coast Aquarium.
The one from Seaview had a head injury and
died a few days after arriving at the aquarium. The
one from Del Rey, who was found shortly after be-
ing washed ashore, Chandler said, was still alive
and “doing OK” as of Dec. 30.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service urges any-
RQHZKR¿QGVDVHDWXUWOHRQWKHEHDFKWRFRQWDFW
the Oregon State Police Wildlife Hotline at 800-
452-7888.
SEASIDE POLICE LOG
Dec. 21
12:42 p.m., 2100 block of
North Holladay Drive: Officer
assisted Seaside Fire Depart-
ment with clearing downed
tree.
5:32 p.m., 400 block of Broad-
way: Officer made contact
with subject. He was verbally
warned for riding the wrong
way on the sidewalk with his
bicycle.
5:36 p.m., 600 block of South
Holladay Drive: Officer assisted
other agency with motor vehi-
cle versus pedestrian accident.
Dec. 22
12:40 a.m., Necanicum Estu-
ary: Subject was advised of
unlawful lodging ordinance.
4:40 p.m., 2500 block of
Millcreek Lane: Caller reported
disturbance with boyfriend.
Officer made contact with both
parties and it was verbal in
nature only.
Dec. 23
10:12 a.m., North Roosevelt
Drive:Report of a vehicle that
was crossing the fog line and
was not maintaining the lane.
Officers advised, searching for
the vehicle. Officers unable to
locate the vehicle.
Dec. 24
12:52 a.m., 800 block of South
Roosevelt: Officer contacted
disabled vehicle. Everything
was fine.
gone. Officer contacted subject
outside and at the request of
staff advised subject he was
trespassed for the evening.
Dec. 27
Dec. 30
12:27 a.m., U.S. Highway 11:
Officer assisted Oregon State
Police with traffic stop.
3:47 a.m., 1800 block of Huck-
leberry Drive: Officer assisted
on fire call.
Dec. 25
2:03 p.m., 300 block of Broad-
way: Caller reported subject
walking on street with a rifle
over shoulder, no other suspi-
cious activity. Officer checked
area downtown but did not
locate subject.
1:45 p.m., 400 block of South
Roosevelt Drive: Report of a
subject acting strangely in the
parking lot, possibly impaired by
a controlled substance. Subject
contacted and trespassed forever.
11:54 a.m., Oregon Route 53:
911 caller reported a disabled
vehicle on Highway 53, right
after the driver of the vehicle
called to say everyone is ok,
tow truck on the way. Oregon
State Police advised.
3:46 p.m., 400 block of South
Roosevelt Drive: Officer
picked up found property that
contained drug paraphanalia
brought to Seaside Police
Department.
5:15 p.m., 900 block of 13th
Avenue: Caller reported hear-
ing fireworks in the area. Officer
made contact and issued
warning.
Dec. 26
10:40 a.m., 1300 block of
South Downing: Caller request-
ed welfare check on a tenant
that hadn’t been seen for a
week. Turns out the subject is
safe in the Clatsop County Jail.
Caller was notified of subject’s
whereabouts.
12:42 p.m., 800 block of South
Holladay Drive: Caller reported
a subject acting oddly, Officer
made contact and subjects
vehicle had broken down and
they would move it soon.
2:57 p.m., 900 block of Beach
Drive: Caller upset with neigh-
bor putting “No Parking” notic-
es on cars, which are parked on
public street. Officer unable to
make contact at residence at
this time.
3:35 p.m., 1300 block of North
Holladay Drive: Caller report-
ed neighbor waving a box of
bullets at them. Officer was
advised and drove to the area.
Neighbor agreed to report
anything suspicious they saw.
Units clear.
8:09 p.m., 300 block of South
Roosevelt Drive: Officer re-
ponded to report of suspicious
male that staff wanted to be
asked to leave. Upon officer
arrival subject was already
8:50 p.m., 300 block of South
Columbia Street: An anony-
mous caller reported a distur-
bance. Officers responded it
was a verbal argument, parties
warned about noise.
7:08 p.m., 400 block of South
Roosevelt Drive: Caller reported
theft of goods and subjects left
in vehicle southbound. Officer
responded and checked area
to the south but did not locate
described vehicle.
Dec. 28
2:43 p.m., 2100 block of South
Franklin Drive: Caller reported
loud music from neighbor. Of-
ficer made contact and subject
agreed to turn the music down.
11:02 p.m., 500 block of Broad-
way: Officer responded to
verbal disturbance and advised
argument over what subjects
were going to do. Officer ad-
vised they knew the address of
where they were staying and
were headed that way.
D EL ’S O .K .
10:35 p.m., 300 block of South
Roosevelt Drive: Caller report-
ing subject acting suspiciously
around storm drain. Officer
advised subject was putting
out fire that had occurred
within his camper caused by an
ember that had attached to his
sweatshirt when he took it off.
All was fine, fire was out.
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5:27 p.m., 1600 block of Spruce
Drive: Officer responded to
dog versus vehicle accident
and made contact with owner
of dog who took custody of
animal.
9:37 p.m., 1600 block of North
Franklin Street: Officer assisted
in returning care home resident
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Dec. 29
4:20 p.m., 1100 block of
North Roosevelt Drive: Officer
responded to 911 report of
subject causing a disturbance.
Officer advised subject would
be trespassed indefinately from
the area.
D EL ’S O .K .
Dec. 31
3:06 p.m., Holladay Drive
near U.S. Highway 101: Caller
report an erratic driver. Officer
checked area but did not locate
vehicle.
4:04 a.m., 1400 block of Roo-
sevelt Drive: While on patrol,
officer made contact with
suspicious persons. Person was
cleaning crew for restaurant.
11:45 p.m., 1000 South Holl-
aday Drive: Officer responded
to report of intoxicated subject
bing brought to police de-
partment from cab company.
Medix was called and subject
was taken to hospital due to his
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