Whale Watching Victoria BC: The Majestic Killer Whale
Orca Spirit offers Victoria BC whale watching tours that are three hours in duration. You can choose between a zodiac or one of the larger, covered vessels for your tour. Peak months for seeing whales in the Juan de Fuca and Haro Straits are April to October. In the region, there are three resident orca pods, known as the J, K, and L pods that are comprised of about 100 killer whales in total.
Due to the high number of whales in the region, there is plenty of opportunity to view them. Success rates for sightings in the prime viewing months are around 95%. There is also a good chance of spotting other types of whales, such as Humpback, Minke, and Gray whales.
Killer whales, also known as orcas, are toothed whales (rather than baleen whales), and their singular blowholes mean that surprisingly they are members of the dolphin family as a defining characteristic of whales is having multiple blowholes. The orcas living in the Victoria region eat predominantly salmon. Many killer whales' diets consist mainly of fish, but some also consume marine mammals such as walruses, seals, sea lions, and even other kinds of whales. Despite the name "killer" whale, wild orcas are not thought to be a threat to humans.
Orcas are very social animals, and they have matrilineal social structures, which means their pods are comprised of a matriarch and her descendants. The orcas' social system is so nuanced and complex that it is considered to have manifestations of culture. For example, killer whales have sophisticated hunting strategies and vocal behaviours that are unique to that pod and passed down from earlier generations. A key element of "culture" in this context is a learned way of communicating and functioning.
Orca Spirit upholds the Pacific Whale Watch Association's standards and guidelines for responsible whale watching in Victoria, British Columbia. Orca Spirit is committed to acting in the whales' best interest to help preserve the species. Moreover, Orca Spirit contributes part of their proceeds to marine research programs.
If you are planning to visit Victoria, BC, and you are looking into whale watching, read this article providing information on the killer whale and whale watching tours in the area.