This week's episode is from the field! Susan interviews whale researcher Ken Balcomb. The interview takes place at Ken's Big Salmon Ranch property on the beautiful Elwha River, acquired to preserve a key salmon-spawning habitat that is vital to feeding J, K and L pods.

Calls to Action: For more stories, photos and videos about the individual whales in the Southern Resident pods, as well as information on how to help them, visit the Center for Whale Research site.

Support growing calls to breach the Lower Snake River Dams.

Read the Outside article about Ken (that Susan refers to in the episode) here: "Is It Too Late for the Southern Resident Orcas?"

In North America, you can view wild orca on the West Coast, especially around the San Juan and Gulf Islands, in the summertime.

Intro music: "The Spaces Between" by Scott Buckley.

Interstitial music: "To the Great Beyond" by Stellardrone.

Photo: Susan Woodward.

Thanks to OrcaSound and Ocean Networks Canada for the audio clips of J, K and L pods and to BBC Sounds for ocean waves audio clips.