When it comes to whale watching tours, orcas are often considered the main attraction. The waters around Vancouver Island host large resident pods of nearly 100 of these whales, as well as small pods of transient orcas that travel across wide ranges of coastline.
Can you see killer whales in Vancouver?
What to expect: Located along Vancouver Island’s northeast coast, Telegraph Cove is one of the best places in the world to see orcas. The protected waters of Johnstone Strait and the Broughton Archipelago are home to around 200 whales each summer. Most of these are orcas, but humpback whales can also be seen here.
Where is the orca in Vancouver?
Transient Orcas have a similar matriline grouping to resident orcas however offspring may leave the mother at maturity. Transients are not seen nearly as often as residents but will be mostly seen in Johnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait and on the west coast of Vancouver Island near shore and number about 260.
Are there orca whales in BC?
There are three kinds of orca whales in B.C.: the northern and southern residents, who stay around Vancouver Island and the Washington islands; the transients, who swim from California and Mexico up to Alaska; and the offshores, who spend most of their time far from shore and come close to land only on rare occasions.
What type of whales are near Vancouver?
Types of Whales Around Vancouver Island
The most common types of whales to watch out for around Vancouver Island include resident and transient Orcas, humpback whales, and Pacific gray whales.
What time of year do you see orcas in Vancouver?
From May to October, it’s prime viewing time to see southern resident orcas feeding on migrating salmon in the Strait of Georgia and the Gulf Islands. But the late summer months are ideal for spotting northern resident orcas, which feed in the Johnstone Strait.
Does Vancouver have sea lions?
Steller sea lions are the most common sea lion on Vancouver Island and numbers are estimated close to 25,000 in British Columbia. They can be seen on all areas on Vancouver Island though you will most likely see them from a boat since they seem to hang out on isolated rocks and small islands.
Are there any sharks in Vancouver?
With all this in mind, BC is actually quite rich in shark species. We’ve got dogfish, obviously, but also blue sharks, threshers, pacific sleeper sharks and others – 14 shark species have been documented off British Columbia, including the: Blue Shark – The classic ‘shark’ with dorsal fin and sleek shape.
Are there grizzly bears in Vancouver?
Grizzly bears do not live year round on Vancouver Island however you can go on one of the bear watching trips to view the mainland Grizzlies. There are almost 14000 Grizzly Bears in British Columbia and many coastal Grizzlies feed along the shorelines for shellfish as well as during salmon season.
What is the top predator on Vancouver Island?
Cougars
Cougars are at the top of the food chain, and fierce predators. Although they will normally avoid confrontation with humans, unfortunately, their actions are often unpredictable. There is also little understanding of what might trigger an attack. Children and pets are most likely to be the victim of a cougar attack.
Do orcas swim up the Columbia River?
Columbia River
Still, the residents have been known to travel to the mouth of the river in search of fish, where they can occasionally be seen near Astoria. Transient orcas have been seen there as well, but they too are a rare sight.
How likely are whales in Vancouver?
If you want to see humpback whales in Vancouver, plan your tour between April and November. The Pacific Northwest coast has seen an increase in humpback whales recently, and while it’s possible to spot them year-round, your best chances are in the late spring to early fall.
How many orcas are left in BC?
With roughly 75 individuals left, southern resident orcas have not been getting enough food to meet their needs for years, according to UBC researchers.
Does Vancouver have mountain lions?
There are an estimated 4000 cougars that live in BC and an estimated 600-800 live on Vancouver Island making it the highest concentration for this mountain lion in North America.
What time of day are orcas most active?
Whales are never diurnal, but they can be crepuscular. This means they are most active during twilight hours which are both before sunrise and after sunset.
Are there lynx in Vancouver?
In British Columbia, lynxes occur over most of the province, but not on the coastal islands and only rarely in the wet forests west of the Coast Range and the Lower Mainland west of Hope.
Can you kayak with orcas in Vancouver?
Kayak with Orcas in the Johnstone Strait
Undoubtedly the best place in the world to kayak with orcas is in Johnstone Strait at the north end of Vancouver Island. The town of Port McNeil is the kayaking capital of the area, and in this area lives the largest number of resident orcas in the world.
Is whale watching worth it in Vancouver?
Vancouver is one of the best locations in the world for whale watching. Thousands of whales migrate through the nearby waters and several pods of orcas live here year-round.
Is whale watching better from Victoria or Vancouver?
If you aren’t coming to Victoria for anything else then go out of Vancouver. It`s definitely not a waste to come to Victoria. I would strongly encourage you to choose Victoria as your whale watching base as you will have much more choice in the number of companies.
Does Vancouver have polar bear?
June 1962, the Hudson’s bay company donated Polar Bears to the Vancouver zoo. This was a historical moment for many people because this was probably their first and only time to be able to see a polar bear up close without glass enclosures.
Do dolphins live in Vancouver?
Pacific White-Sided dolphins are one of the favorite mammals to encounter on the ocean for both tourists and nature enthusiasts around Vancouver Island. They are usually viewed in schools of 50-100 or more in a pod around the north eastern part of Vancouver Island.