Charted Waters: The Secrets of Whale Poop

What can a cloud of whale poop—or a breathy mist from a blowhole—tell us about the giants of the sea? In this episode of Charted Waters, host Maureen Gordon explores the unexpectedly rich world of whale DNA science, from fecal analysis to blow collection.

Maureen is joined by Kait Yehle, a biologist with Skeena Wild whose research into whale stress hormones and microbiomes is helping us better understand how whales live, eat, and cope in today’s oceans. She shares insights from her years studying cetaceans off the BC coast, including killer whales in the Salish Sea.

We’re also joined by Alina Andrushko, a longtime Maple Leaf Adventures guide who shares a firsthand account of encountering whale poop at sea—and what it’s like to be a non-scientist on the front lines of this unique research.

And later in the episode, we hear from Éadín O’Mahony, a PhD candidate with the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews, about her work collecting whale blows in Gitga’at Territory and what these samples reveal about genetic relationships between humpbacks.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube Music, or wherever you go to for Podcasts:

Topics in this episode include

What whale poop reveals about diet, stress, and family
The history of “scat science” on the BC coast
Whale microbiomes and why they matter
DNA research from whale blow
Stories from the field (and the poop deck!)
How you can help protect these remarkable animals

Featured Guests

Éadín O’Mahony, PhD Candidate, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews
Kait Yehle, Biologist, Skeena Wild
Alina Andrushko, Expedition Guide, Maple Leaf Adventures

Links & Other Resources

Photos from the Field

Pink logs of whale poop float on the surface—captured just in time by our expedition leader Alina before they dissolved into a cloud. A fleeting moment, and a vital clue to whale health.
Actual humpback whale poop, collected by Alina and carefully frozen before it was turned over to the research station at Finn Island. One bag, endless possibilities.
What can a whale’s poop or breath reveal? Guests at Finn Island Research Station find out, surrounded by wild beauty and groundbreaking science.
With drone in hand, Éadín O’Mahony explains how researchers capture a whale’s breath mid-air—transforming mist and snot into vital data.
With the rainforest behind her and the ocean all around, Éadín O’Mahony brings science to life, teaching guests about whale health and the power of field research.
A Northern Resident orca spyhops in coastal waters—a behaviour that offers a glimpse of its surroundings above the surface.
A curtain of seawater falls from a humpback’s fluke—one final splash before it dives into the deep.
A humpback whale erupts from the water in a feeding display—a remarkable show of strength, grace and mystery.