December 2, 2025, by admin

Something is growing at the Sitka Sound Science Center! This Giving Tuesday, you can become a part of our story.  

Fans of the aquarium will remember its previous eight-armed inhabitants. Even first-time visitors love to ask whether we have an octopus, or if a new one will be joining us soon.  

At long last, the answer to that question is yes!  

However, you probably haven’t met her yet. Why? Our giant is tiny! We have a new giant Pacific octopus, but on arrival we estimated her armspan at only six inches. She is very shy, vulnerable, and easily startled. For now, she lives in the aquarium lab, where she is slowly getting used to having humans around and putting on mass. On her first weigh-in in early September she weighed only 33 grams, but she has now tripled in size! Octopuses grow very quickly, so we’re hoping she’ll be big enough to meet visitors soon! 

As we welcome our newest aquarium resident, we are reminded of all the things that make us proud to do our work: pursuing our curiosity about the world, connecting with community members, and celebrating the uniqueness of our own local ecosystem.  

Your gift to the Sitka Sound Science Center will inspire inquiry in every corner of our community. Your support drives everything from place-based school programming to community-driven research. This Giving Tuesday, you can help all of us grow.  

Donate today