Meet the Whales

Species of Whales frequently seen in the Salish Sea

	Bigg’s / Transient Killer Whale Transient Orca whales pass through the islands frequently, feeding on seals, sea lions and fish. They measure up to 32 feet in length and weigh up to 11 tons. They are also referred to as “Bigg’s Killer Whales” in honor of Dr. Michael Bigg (1939-1990), a Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientist, one of the primary modern researchers on Killer Whales.
	Southern Resident Orca Whale 3 resident pods (J, K & L pods) live in the region year-round and primarily feed on salmon, cod and herring. They can measure up to 32 feet in length and weigh up to 11 tons. These whales have a distinct, matriarchal culture, including their own language and the oldest female in each pod is the leader.
	Minke Whale A baleen whale measuring 24 feet in length on average and weighing about 4-5 tons.
	Humpback Whale Large baleen whale measuring up to 52 feet in length and weighing up to 40 tons, these giants are known for their spectacular breaches.
	Gray Whale Gray whales measure up to 50 feet in length and weigh up to 40 tons, and are often seen early and late during our whale watching season as they migrate past Washington state.
	Dall’s Porpoise With black and white coloring similar to Orca whales, these porpoises measure up to 8 feet in length, weigh up to 500 pounds, and primarily eat small fish.

Photos from Whale Watching cruises:

RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING – The Facts & Our Focus

We have been practicing responsible whale watching for over 30 years, following all state and federal guidelines, and as member of the Pacific Whale Watching Association we adhere to rules that exceed these guidelines. Our captains undergo annual training to stay up-to-date on rules and research being done to protect these magnificent creatures.

• We are 100% focused on the health of the whales and science-based solutions that best support their current and future well-being.
• Research has shown that the vessel speed is directly related to vessel noise – science has shown that reducing vessel noise offers more benefits to whales than moving vessels further away from whales. Go-slow zones greatly reduce vessel noise, down to the noise level of ambient rainfall.
• Many whale species are thriving in the exact same ecosystem and soundscape of the struggling Southern Resident Orca Whales – 2018 was a record year for Bigg’s / Transient orca whale sightings, and more than 400 individual Humpback whales were spotted in the Salish Sea.
• Whale watching boats serve as stewards on the water, modelling best practices, alerting other vessels on the water when whales are in the area, and urging those vessels to slow down.

BIGG’S (TRANSIENT) KILLER WHALES

Bigg’s killer whales (also known as transient orca whales) live in the waters along the west coast of the United States and Canada, usually travelling in small groups. Their diet is primarily seals, sea lions, dolphins and harbor porpoises, along with a variety of other marine mammals. They even feed on sea birds, although these aren’t considered to be a substantial food source for them. In recent years we have seen these whales more often than Southern Resident Orcas, usually in the San Juan Islands or Haro Strait, but occasionally in waters close to Bellingham, including Bellingham Bay and Rosario Strait.

SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCA WHALES

This resident group of 74 whales (as of September 20, 2021) consists of J, K and L pods (pods are family groups of 24, 16, and 33 whales respectively). They live most of the time in the coastal and inland waters of Washington State and lower British Columbia, although at times they go as far south as California or north to Alaska. Unlike Bigg’s Killer Whales, SRKWs primary food source are salmon and plummeting salmon numbers have resulted in many health and reproduction difficulties for the Southern Residents. Because of this, San Juan Cruises focuses on watching the other whales in the region to give the residents more space to find food.

 

BECOME A MEMBER

Help protect the Southern Resident Killer (Orca) Whale population in the Pacific Northwest. Members receive a Matriline ID Guide, photos and updates. Read more at www.whaleresearch.com