Bigg’s Orca in Comox, Whales Finally Along Mainland Side

Bigg’s Orca in Comox, Whales Finally Along Mainland Side

Unusual to have T073B alone and inside Comox Harbour hunting for days on end. He arrived with his siblings, who then left him to hunt seals off the river. The fact he stayed in the harbour for days is very unusual behaviour, but we’re told that he appears healthy with breaches and tail lobs. He may have been chasing a seal around a crab pot and appeared to become entangled in line. He managed to disentangle himself within a few minutes. His behaviour is being monitored closely.

In the meantime, we are finally seeing some whale activity on the Malaspina Strait, or mainland, side of Georgia Strait. A family of Transient Bigg’s Orca worked their way down the strait and we hear there may be more near the bottom of Texada. The Northern Resident Killer Whales families of the A30’s and A42’s briefly looked like they were going to come down Johstone Strait, but decided to stay closer to the top end and Blackfish Sound still.

We have also been priviledged to start seeing some Humpback Whales. And after seeing all those amazing photos of them leaping out of the water, we hope to get some shore based photos coming in to us for our reports. Numbers of Humpbacks are still up, with 20 individuals counted the other day just between Texada and Mitlenatch, with other blows being seen in the distance and yet others in the various channels, which is where we see most of the Dolphin and Porpoise reports.

It was wonderful to hear that a larger group of up to 30 little Harbour Porpoise were reported again. There is safety in numbers for them. Their metabolism runs so high that having others keep watch for preditors allows individuals to rest.

Our Magazine Editor is on a well deserved break, so the Magazine section will be back on his return. An article regarding the loss of the latest newborn to the endangered Southern Resident Orca leaving the population still at 75 will follow on his return.

There have been many near misses with boaters almost striking whales. Slow Down Please!
Keep your eyes open, report your sightings to us, and use caution on the water giving these animals plenty of room. Stop and smell the fish breath.