It’s been an exciting week here on San Juan Island, with orcas and a few humpbacks making appearances off the coast of San Juan! This past Saturday, August 5, visitors to the west side of the island were treated to a rare showing by a humpback whale headed north through Haro Strait. One of our groups of kayakers, who had launched from the San Juan County Park early on Saturday morning for the first day of a two-day whale camp, saw the whale just before noon on Saturday as it came close to shore around Hannah Heights. A little later…

August is here, meaning it’s time to name some baby Orcas! Four calves from the three pods of resident Orca whales that reside in the water off the west coast of San Juan Island will be given names this month by the San Juan Island Whale Museum. Read more about the four calves and vote for your favorite names between now and the end of August! Better yet, come join us on one of our sea kayaking tours in Orca whale habitat. http://www.whale-museum.org/programs/orcadoption/Name_the_Babies_11.html

The Orca, also known as the “killer whale”, is the largest species of the oceanic dolphin family (Family Delphinidae). This toothed predator is one of the most widely distributed sea mammals on earth, and can be found in all of the world’s oceans. Fortunately, Outdoor Odysseys offers eco-friendly kayak tours in one of the world’s best orca whale watching areas

The inland waters of Washington are one of the richest marine environment in the world. It has been heralded as the second most amazing place to scuba dive in the world….second only because of the chilly 48 degree waters!

The southern resident pods of Orca whales currently number over 80 individually identified whales in three separate pods. They are generally found in the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands between May and October when salmon, their primary prey, come from the ocean to spawn in either the Fraser River or the rivers of the Puget Sound. Late May, June and early July is the best month for seeing these magnificent creatures. However, mid to late July, August and September can also provide great opportunities for seeing Orcas. Last year the Orcas were making semi-regular appearances through mid-October. Ya never…

While the name “Killer Whale” is a rather disturbing title, (trust me on this, I would not want to be a salmon in the water when they are around) they have shown no aggression toward humans. In the many years Outdoor Odysseys has been running sea kayaking tours on the west side, with literally hundreds of guests, we have never had any incident where the whales tipped over, breached, or made any antagonistic move towards our kayaks. Over the years many of our guests have had the thrill of their lives when whales have passed sometimes within 10 yards of…

On Tuesday November 15, 2005, the federal government increased the level of protection for Puget Sound’s Orca whales by listing them as an endangered species. The Orcas were previously listed as a threatened species.

Learn more about the habits and habitat of Orca whales. Orcas spend their lives in long-term social groups, called pods (group size: 3-25) These pods are stable family-related groups. Orcas display a high level of care for their offspring. The orca’s gestation period is thought to be 12-16 months, with most calves born between October and March. In addition to the mothers, various

  The largest of all dolphins (the Delphidae family), the orca is also known as killer whale, blackfish and grampus. At birth an orca can weigh up to 395 lbs. The adult weight can range from 2.6 tons to 9 tons. Orcas can swim up to 34 mph (55 km/h). A female orca’s milk contains about 48% fat for several months after her calf is born.  During first several months of its life, the calf will often consume 10% of its body weight per day in order to develop a thick layer of insulating fat, or “blubber”, on its body.…

Orca aren’t the only whales found in the waters of the San Juan Islands. Northern minke whales also live in the inland coastal waters of Washington but can be shy of boat traffic.