A new children's book, "Koda and the Whales," tells the story of gray whales off the Oregon coast through the eyes of Koda, a dog trained to detect whales. Marine biologist Carrie Newell, who studies the seasonal gray whale residents of Depoe Bay, authored the book.
Whale-Sniffing Dogs: Newell trains dogs to identify whales by scent. Koda's mother, Kida, could even identify the direction a whale was approaching from.
Diet Discovery: Newell discovered that the gray whales off Depoe Bay primarily eat mysid shrimp, which live in shallow waters.
Individuality: The book emphasizes the individuality of each whale, with Newell naming them based on their dorsal hump patterns.
Dealing with Loss: The book also addresses the difficult topic of losing a pet, sharing the story of Newell's loss of Kida.
Special Whale Encounter: Newell recounts a special encounter where a whale named Scarback seemed to know Kida was sick, highlighting the potential for connection between animals.