Humpback whales visit the Salish Sea, the inland waters between British Columbia and Washington state, during their migrations. Humpback whales were hunted to local extinction in these waters, but over the last 25 years, their numbers have recovered and are now routinely seen in whale-watching tours, McKeen said.

One naturalist with Blue Kingdom Whale and Wildlife Tours in Anacortes, Washington captured a stunning moment during a feeding frenzy on Sept. 12. While female humpback whale Zillion was chowing down on some fish, a harbor seal wound up in its mouth, making for a wild moment captured on camera.