Killer whales

Victoria Times Colonist
Published: Sunday, February 10, 2008
The striking black and white markings of killer whales can bring small boats and whale-watching vessels flocking and make B.C. Ferries passengers run for the rail.

The best known whales around Vancouver Island are the salmon-eating resident killer whales.

Endangered southern residents have 88 members in three pods - 43 in L Pod (not including Lolita, an L Pod whale who has been at Miami Seaquarium since her capture in 1972), 26 in J Pod and 19 in K Pod.

Threatened northern residents have 230 whales in 16 pods, not including Corky who was captured in 1969 and is at Sea World in California.

Major threats to resident orcas are environmental contamination, dwindling supplies of salmon and noise.

Transient killer whales, which eat marine mammals, number about 220 and are also federally designated as threatened. Transients often travel alone, but do band together only to hunt.

In the late 1980s, scientists discovered a population of offshore orcas, which may be the ancestors of the northern and southern residents.

Although little is known about them, more than 250 have been identified and it is believed the number could be considerably higher. They are designated as being of special concern.

Offshores travel in large groups and are believed to be fish-eating.

Southern residents are commonly seen in Juan de Fuca Strait, Haro Strait around the San Juan Islands and along the west coast of Vancouver Island, Washington and Oregon from April to November. J Pod often stays around for the winter.

In winter, southern residents have been reported as far south as Monterey Bay in California and as far north as the Queen Charlotte Islands. Otherwise, little is known about their winter movements.

Northern residents spend much of the summer and fall around Campbell River, Alberni Inlet, Johnstone Strait, up to Dixon Entrance and into southern Queen Charlotte Strait. However, they have been seen as far south as Grays Harbor, Washington and as far north as Glacier Bay, Alaska.

Little is known about their winter and spring movements, but they may spend time in the deep water past the continental shelf.

Transients are found on the coast year round, but their movements are unpredictable. Transients can range up to 1,500 kilometres along the coast from Alaska to California. These killer whales spend most of their time in open waters and do not usually come close to shore.

Killer whales, which grow to about nine metres in length, and are really a large dolphin, are found in every ocean, but it is not known how many exist worldwide.

Source: Time Colonist