Video: RAW: J-Pod returns to Western Washington

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SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. – Resident orcas are returning to Puget Sound and some scientists are hot on their trail.

They're looking for whale feces, which provide clues to their health.

"We are looking for killer whale poop," said Katherine Ayers, University of Washington grad student.

To do that, she perches on the bow of the research vessel, net in hand. Each poop scoop she gathers provides clues into the animals' favorite foods and their hormone levels.

Hormones provide critical information.

"We're looking at stress levels, we're looking at nutrition, we're also looking at reproductive condition like pregnancy," she said.

Reproduction is the key to the survival of the endangered resident orcas. When J pod returned this spring, researchers were sad to see its newest member was missing.

"We had that new one last fall, October, but that one didn't survive the winter, so we're still at 25 in J pod," said Ken Balcomb, executive director for the Center for Whale Research.

Scientists think they may be able to reduce such unfortunate losses by identifying what stresses out the orcas and how to avoid it.

So they cruise for poop.

SkyKING

SkyKING captured images of the orcas just west of the San Juan Islands on Thursday, May 22, 2008.

"When they surface, and go back down, they make these calm spots in the water and our boat checks those spots and sometimes there's a fecal sample there and sometimes there's not and it's actually easier than you'd think," Ayers said.

Researchers are concerned that low returns of salmon, the orcas' primary food, may lead to shorter stays by the resident pods.