British Columbia’s Whales

Scientists admit that despite extensive research on marine mammals, relatively little is known.

The most startling fact about the whales that swim in the waters around Vancouver Island is the lack of facts.

They’re big, beautiful and infinitely appealing, but, even scientists who have dedicated their lives to studying marine mammals, readily admit they know remarkably little about them.

Out there, somewhere in the depths, are killer, grey, sperm, minke, blue, fin, sei, North Pacific right, beaked and humpback whales.

New baby spotted west of Whidbey is J Pod’s second birth this year. A tiny head protectively flanked by two adult killer whales was the first sign of a new addition to a pod of endangered southern resident killer whales this week.

The calf, believed to have been born Monday night or Tuesday morning, is the second birth this year for J Pod, one of three pods of southern residents.