Three southern resident orcas are pregnant and boaters are being asked to give them distance.
The Seattle Times reports the expecting moms are all members of J-pod.
Private boaters are asked to give them a wide berth while commercial whale watching boats should stay at least a half-nautical mile away.
Orca pregnancies are common but births are rare for the endangered southern residents.
Pregnant whales need extra nutrition and boat noise interferes with their ability to hunt.