The most common types of whales to watch out for around Vancouver Island include resident and transient Orcas, humpback whales, and Pacific gray whales.
Are there orcas in Vancouver Island?
Off our coast, we are fortunate to have 3 different ecotypes and 4 isolated breeding populations of orca. Offshore Killer Whales are found off the west coast of Vancouver Island; they’re rarely seen and have never been encountered on our tours. In fact, scientists only discovered them in the 1990s!
What kind of whales can be seen off the coast of BC?
The four most common large baleen whales in B.C. are the minke, grey, humpback and fin whale. All four species are found along our coast in the summer months. Both grey and humpback whales are migratory, spending their winters in low latitude areas (Mexico, Hawaii, etc.).
What kind of whales are in Victoria BC?
Majestic mammals and marine wildlife abound in the waters surrounding Victoria, including the orca, or killer whale, and gray, humpback, and minke whales. Other aquatic neighbours include sea lions, seals, porpoise and many marine birds.
When can you see whales off Vancouver Island?
The best viewing time is from May to October. Pacific Gray Whales migrate north along the west coast of Vancouver Island during March and April. They are easily accessible by boat, or can be viewed from mounted telescopes in the Long Beach area.
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.
Are there grizzly on Vancouver Island?
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 time of day is best to see whales in Victoria BC?
But first, we stress that there’s no “best” time of day to go whale watching. Whales are out and about doing their thing day and night, so whether you go out in the morning, afternoon or evening you’ll always have a great chance of seeing whales and other marine wildlife.
Can you see orcas from the shore on Vancouver Island?
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.
What is the rarest whale to see?
One species, the True’s beaked whale, is so rare that only a handful of people have ever seen it alive.
What type of whales are in Tofino?
The three most commonly seen large whale species seen in the Tofino area are the Pacific Gray whale, Orca and Humpback. The Pacific Gray whales are a particularly special sight.
Are there killer whales in Victoria?
“Every record we have of Type C killer whales in our coastal waters – meaning New South Wales, Tasmania and now Victoria – every record has new calves in it, which is quite amazing,” Mr Donnelly said.
Are there sea lions in Victoria BC?
They are sometimes seen on the rocks beside the ferry route through Active Pass, and at Race Rocks near Victoria, among many other suitable rocky islets. From December through April, sea lions converge on the east side of Vancouver Island to feed on herring that are returning to spawn.
Can you see whales from land on Vancouver Island?
Hands down, the best place on that coast to view whales and all kinds of wildlife is the Northern Vancouver Island area, specifically Telegraph Cove, Johnstone Strait and the Broughton Archipelago. Here’s why: The area is the summer home of over 280 Northern Resident orcas— also known as ‘killer whales’.
Is whale watching better in Vancouver or Victoria?
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.
How many whales are in Vancouver Island?
Resident whales along Vancouver Island are split into two separate communities: Northern and Southern residents. There are just over 80 resident Orca whales that frequent the southern Vancouver Island region and Juan De Fuca Strait.
Are there mountain lions on Vancouver Island?
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.
Are there wolves on Vancouver Island?
The Vancouver Coastal Sea wolf or Vancouver Coastal Island wolf (Canis lupus crassodon) is a subspecies of grey wolf, endemic to Great Bear Rainforest and northern Vancouver Island within the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. It lives in packs of about five to twenty.
Are there crocodiles on Vancouver Island?
Well, no, not really. But there is a creature called the Northern Alligator Lizard living here. It’s actually the largest lizard in Canada, but that doesn’t mean much when it reaches less than a foot long.
Do snakes live on Vancouver Island?
The Sharp-tailed Snake is a small rare snake found on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, British Columbia. This guide provides information on how to identify the snake and distinguish it from the more common garter snakes. All snakes found in this area are non-venomous and harmless to humans.
Are there sharks by Vancouver Island?
Yes, we’ve got sharks in Tofino and off Vancouver Island people. You’ve got a slim chance of seeing one, but they’re out there, maintaining balance in the marine ecosystem of the BC coast.