Rare White Orca Sighting Near North Vancouver Island
Rare white orca calf “Frosty” near Telegraph Cove, BC. Photo: Scott Turton, Prince of Whales
Rare White Killer Whale Spotted Near North Vancouver Island
White Orca Calf Named "Frosty" Seen 2,000 KM from California 'Home'
TELEGRAPH COVE, BC - August 11, 2022 - The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) reported a rare sighting of a white orca in BC waters.
According to PWWA, Scott Turton, a captain for Prince of Whales in Telegraph Cove, was on a tour Wednesday watching Bigg's killer whales when he noticed a nearly all-white animal in the mix. At first Scott thought it might be T46B1B Tl'uk, a white orca known throughout the Salish Sea, but after getting photos, it was clear it was not. Scott recalled another white orca that had been seen several times in California (and even as far south as off Tijuana, Mexico on October 28, 2021) and reached out to researcher Alisa Schulman-Janiger with the California Killer Whale Project.
Schulman-Janiger confirmed that traveling with members of the local T060 and T069 families were CA216C and her white calf, CA216C1 "Frosty". At one point the two California whales branched off on their own and found themselves in very shallow water in Beaver Cove, but by 5:00 PM they had left the cove and were seen by Captain Scott on the Prince of Whales boat heading west, just the two of them, away from the area.
Frosty was first seen as a newborn by Monterey Bay Whale Watch in August 2019, but has never been documented in BC waters, although according to a post from California Killer Whale Project, the mom, CA216C, was seen near Alert Bay in July 2014 with her family.
"The distance between that Mexico sighting in late October 2021 to yesterday's sighting near Telegraph Cove is more than 2,500 km - quite the trip!," said Erin Gless, PWWA executive director. Prior to yesterday, the last sighting of Frosty was off California’s Farallon Islands on June 26 of this year.
Naturalists aren't sure what exactly makes Frosty white, but it's not the first whale that has been seen in this area with a similar condition. Tl'uk is a well-documented young whale who unfortunately hasn't been seen since April 2021. There was also Chimo who was kept at Sealand in the 1970's. It's thought these whales' unusual coloration could be caused by something called Chédiak–Higashi syndrome.
Frosty surfaces near Sointula, BC. Photo: Scott Turton, Prince of Whales
Salish Sea Boaters Urged to Drive Safely, Look Out for Marine Life Over Long Holiday Weekend
Bigg’s killer whale T019C “Spouter” surfaces in the Juan de Fuca Strait. Photo: Mollie Naccarato, Sooke Coastal Explorations
As Whales Abound, Salish Sea Boaters Urged to Drive Safely, Look Out for Marine Wildlife Over the Long Canada Day and Fourth of July Weekend
SEATTLE, WA & VICTORIA, BC- July 1, 2022 - The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) is urging Salish Sea boaters to be on the lookout for whales in advance of the Canada Day and Fourth of July long weekend. Throughout recent weeks, the PWWA has reported large numbers of Bigg’s killer whales, humpback whales, minke whales, and gray whales across wide areas of the Salish Sea. Members of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population have also been reported in the area in the last week. With so many whales spread across the region, encounters with recreational boaters are becoming more common.
High temperatures last weekend lured boaters to the water, but according to the PWWA, many seemed unaware of whales in the area or of how to operate responsibly around them.
“There are whales just about everywhere right now, which is great, but last weekend alone our PWWA operators documented 50 sentinel actions, or protective interventions involving other boaters,” said Erin Gless, the association’s executive director. “Some were proactive, such as hailing ferries or cargo ships to warn of whales along their route, but most were reactive interventions involving boaters traveling too fast or too close to whales. We definitely witnessed some close calls.”
Regulations for boating around whales differ slightly between British Columbia and Washington state.
In British Columbia, boaters are reminded to stay at least:
● 100 metres from most whales, such as humpbacks, gray whales, and minke whales
● 200 metres from most whales if they appear to be resting or have a calf
● 400 metres from all killer whales from Campbell River to Ucluelet
Professional whale watch vessels flying a purple “authorized vessel” flag may view Bigg’s killer whales from 200 metres under Canada’s Sustainable Whale Watch Agreement
In Washington, boaters are reminded to stay at least:
● 100 yards from most whales, such as humpbacks, gray whales, and minke whales
● 200 yards from Bigg’s killer whales
● 300 yards from endangered Southern Resident killer whales
There is also a mandatory 7-knot speed limit in Washington for vessels within ½ nautical mile (1,013 yards) of endangered Southern Resident killer whales.
The Whale Warning Flag is flown when whales are within 1 kilometer. Photo: Island Adventures Whale Watching
Boaters throughout the Salish Sea are encouraged to look for vessels flying the brightly-colored Whale Warning Flag which indicates that whales are in the immediate area.
Violations of boating regulations near whales should be reported to:
● Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Observe, Record, and Report Hotline: 1-800-465-4336
● Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s WILDCOMM Hotline: 360-902-2936
A breaching Bigg’s killer whale. Photo: Sara Jenkins, Wild Whales Vancouver
Humpback whale BCY1000 “Hydra”. Photo: Ellie Sawyer, Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching
First Salish Sea Humpback Calf of 2022 Spotted, Just in Time for Mother’s Day
Big Mama (left) and her 7th calf (right). Photo: Bethany Shimasaki, Western Prince Whale Watching
First Salish Sea Humpback Calf of 2022 Spotted, Just in Time for Mother’s Day
Iconic Humpback “Big Mama” Swims 3,000 Miles Back from Hawaii with 7th Calf in Tow
SEATTLE, WA & VICTORIA, BC - May 4, 2022 - The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) today announced that the first humpback whale calf of the 2022 season has arrived in the Salish Sea, just in time for the upcoming Mother’s Day weekend. Fittingly, the calf belongs to the most famous Salish Sea humpback mother of all, BCY0324, known as “Big Mama.”
On Monday afternoon, naturalist Bethany Shimasaki of Western Prince Whale Watching reported a humpback whale and calf in Boundary Pass near the US/Canadian border. The mother humpback did not immediately show her tail, the feature typically used for identifying humpback whale individuals, but images revealed Big Mama’s signature – a small bump on the right side of her dorsal fin. The match has since been confirmed by BC-based researcher Tasli Shaw of the Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea project.
“When the news traveled over the radio, there was instant celebration,” said PWWA’s executive director, Erin Gless. “Big Mama was one of the first humpback whales to repopulate the Salish Sea after the whaling era and has been feeding here regularly since 1997. We always look forward to her return, but even more so when she brings a calf with her.”
3,000 MILE SWIM FOR MOM AND CALF
Big Mama’s latest calf was not entirely a surprise, according to Gless. In February, Captain Steve’s Rafting Adventures of Lahaina, Hawaii reported seeing Big Mama with a newborn. The crew shared their sighting to Happywhale.com, a site that connects researchers, whale watching naturalists, and citizen scientists around the world, and alerted the PWWA of the news.
Crossing the Pacific with a calf can be fraught with threats in the form of fishing gear, commercial shipping traffic, and killer whales, but Big Mama is a seasoned pro. She has given birth to at least six prior calves in her lifetime. Her last calf, “Pop-Tart” was born in 2016 and named for his or her fondness of playfully popping up out of the water. Big Mama’s seventh calf seems to share that energetic spirit. The little one was seen breaching, cartwheeling, and splashing throughout the day.
In the coming weeks, more and more humpbacks will return to the Salish Sea from their breeding grounds in Hawaii, Mexico, and Central America. Humpback whales typically remain in the region throughout the spring, summer, and fall while they feed on krill and small fish. Last year, a record 21 humpback whale calves were sighted throughout the Salish Sea.
Big Mama’s 7th calf playing on its back. Photo: Val Shore, Eagle Wing Tours
Big Mama’s 7th calf playing on its side. Photo: April Ryan, Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching
Big Mama and her tiny calf. Photo: Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales
70+ Bigg's Killer Whales Seen in Salish Sea Thursday, New Single-Day Record
No April Foolin’ - More Than 70 Bigg’s Orcas Seen Throughout Salish Sea on Thursday
Whale Watchers Report New Single-Day Bigg’s Killer Whale Record
SEATTLE, WA & VICTORIA, BC - April 1, 2022 - The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) announced that whale watchers in Washington and southern British Columbia documented at least 72 Bigg’s killer whales Thursday, a new single-day record. “The number might sound unbelievable,” says PWWA executive director Erin Gless, “but it’s no April Fools’ joke.”
Over the course of the day, ten distinct groups of Bigg’s killer whales were reported throughout the Salish Sea, ranging as far south as Hood Canal in Washington’s Puget Sound, and as far north as Vancouver Island’s Campbell River region in British Columbia. The largest group, spotted by PWWA operators near the northern San Juan Islands, contained 19 killer whales in total. “We were watching a group of four whales when, out of nowhere, 15 more materialized,” shares naturalist Sam Murphy of Island Adventures Whale Watching in Anacortes, WA. “It was magical.”
“This was an awesome community effort with watchers from Campbell River to Puget Sound contributing sightings and photos”, says Monika Wieland Shields, director of Orca Behavior Institute on San Juan Island. “We wonder how long this increase in Bigg’s killer whales will continue, but they keep setting records. More than 70 in the region in one day is astounding.”
Mark Malleson, researcher for the Center for Whale Research and long-time guide for Prince of Whales in Victoria, BC, confirmed the number as a new Salish Sea record. “There have been days in the last decade with around 50 different Bigg’s killer whales reported, maybe 60,” said Malleson, “but Thursday was certainly the most so far.”
One of the most recognizable individuals spotted Thursday was T63 “Chainsaw”, an adult male killer whale born in 1978. Known for his jagged dorsal fin, he and his mom, T65 “Whidbey” were seen near the US-Canada border in Haro Strait. Unlike endangered Southern Resident killer whales who feed on salmon, Bigg’s killer whales like Chainsaw hunt marine mammals and are thriving thanks to an abundance of seals and sea lions in the region.
Bigg’s killer whale brothers T101A “Rush” and T101B “Lagoon”. Photo: Ellie Sawyer, Maya’s Legacy, PWWA
T63 “Chainsaw”. Photo: Val Shore, Eagle Wing Tours, PWWA
Bigg’s killer whale hunting. Photo: Sam Murphy, Island Adventures, PWWA
T63 “Chainsaw”. Photo: Valerie Messier, Prince of Whales, PWWA
T137A “Jack” swims through Active Pass. Photo: Rachelle Hayden, Salish Sea Orca Squad
PWWA's 2021 Sightings & Sentinel Actions Report Released
Pacific Whale Watch Association Releases Comprehensive 2021 Summary Report
New Report Reflects 13,000+ Wildlife Sightings, Nearly 900 Protective Sentinel Actions in Salish Sea
SEATTLE, WA & VICTORIA, BC - March 8, 2022 - The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) has just released the organization’s 2021 Sightings & Sentinel Actions Report. The 29-page report was generated using data from the PWWA App, a private app utilized by PWWA captains, naturalists, crew during whale and wildlife tours.
Last year, more than 13,000 reports of whales and other wildlife were entered in the PWWA App. Bigg’s killer whales were the whales most frequently documented by PWWA App users, with 5,575 entries spanning 304 days of 2021. Humpback whales were the second most frequently reported cetaceans, reported on 301 days, followed by gray whales on 146 days and minke whales on 145 days. Salmon-eating resident killer whales were documented least frequently, with Southern Resident killer whales reported by PWWA App users on 99 days and Northern Resident killer whales reported on 53 days.
In addition to whale sightings, PWWA members documented nearly 900 “sentinel actions” in 2021. A sentinel action is defined by the PWWA as an action taken by professional whale watchers during a tour to protect or benefit whales and other wildlife. Samples of sentinel actions performed by the PWWA in 2021 include:
Stopping other vessels from speeding near whales
Proactively warning vessels of whales nearby
Removing harmful debris from the water
Reporting sick or entangled animals to proper authorities
Of 874 sentinel actions documented in 2021, 753 (86%) involved directly contacting other vessels. The PWWA was successful in slowing, stopping, or diverting nearby vessels in the presence of whales in at least 70% of sentinel actions, resulting in quieter and safer conditions. In most cases, PWWA operators were the only vessels available to alert other boats to the presence of whales and influence their operating behavior.
The complete PWWA 2021 Sightings & Sentinel Actions Report can be accessed here.