Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2026

Harbor porpoises are one of the most abundant marine mammal species in the Salish Sea, however there is much we don't know about this often elusive species. Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) has spent over 10 years conducting behavioral and photo-identification research on harbor porpoises to learn more about their behavior, ecology, movement patterns and more. Did you know that individuals can remain resident to an area, that they sometimes eat salmon, or that they wake surf? Recently we have added the aerial perspective of a drone and are getting even greater insight into their foraging and social behavior. PacMam is one of the few organizations in the world conducting this type of long-term work on harbor porpoises, focusing on knowing the individuals. Come and dive into the secret lives of harbor porpoises in the Salish Sea, there is more to them than meets the eye!