Portland in the News: Pikas Are Back, Exploding Whale Day, Comic Museum & More | November 13, 2025

It’s getting cuter in the Columbia River Gorge these days. The Oregon Zoo’s Cascades Pika Watch reports the potato-size mammals are making a population comeback after the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire caused their numbers to dwindle.

Oregonian’s celebrated the 55th anniversary of Exploding Whale Day this week and an official celebration will be held in Florence OR on Sunday.

And grab your cape! A new museum highlighting Portland’s comic culture will open in December.

Here’s a roundup of the goings-on in Portland this week:

• Portland Mercury: Monqui & AEG’s new venue has broken ground at Lloyd Center
• Travel Oregon: Hiking in the Oregon Redwoods
• OregonLive: Beach walker saves stranded shark
• OPB: New museum pays tribute to Portland’s comic culture
• Here is Oregon: Sauvie Island’s secret lighthouse trail is Portland’s perfect year-round
• Portland.gov: New artworks by indigenous artists installed at Tom McCall Waterfront Park
• KGW: Portland pika population recovers after Eagle Creek Fire
• KGW: Christmas tree arrivers in Pioneer Courthouse Square
• PDX Monthly: Portland’s Best Museums
• OregonLive: It’s Exploding Whale Day: 10 things to know