Orca Sizes

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Orca Sizes


Cover Image:
Transient Biggs Killer Whale, T101B

Orca (or Killer whales) are the largest dolphins in the world. Adult male Orca maybe over 8-meters long and may have a mass close to 10000-kg. Full grown female Orca are about 7-meters long and have a mass over 7000-kg. Adult males have a dorsal fin that can be about 2-meters tall, which can be visible many kilometers away. Female Orca have shorter dorsal fins that are less than one-meter tall and have a pronounced curve. The blows of Orca are low and bushy, and can be heard from some distance away. Orca perform many behaviours at the surface of the water including breaching. A full body breach is amazing when you consider how much strength, energy, and speed an adult Orca needs to leave the water completely.

Boaters, use caution on the water. Remember N.E.W.S. when you see a whale, meaning put your boat in NEUTRAL, ENJOY the view, WAIT till the whales are at a fair distance, and then SLOWLY leave the scene.

The Federal Government (DFO) has issued the following statement about watching whales in the wild: “To address disturbance in the presence of whales, a mandatory 400-metre vessel approach distance for all killer whales is in effect starting June 1, 2020 in all southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet. The Marine Mammal Regulations continue to remain in effect year-round, including maintaining a minimum 200 metre approach distance from all killer whales in Canadian Pacific waters other than described above, and 100 metres for other whales, porpoises and dolphins OR 200 metres when the animal is in resting position or with a calf.”

WOWs works throught the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.

Society News & Events
COVID-19 Updates:
We've all been hit hard during this pandemic and WOWs greatly appreciates your kind donations helping us maintain our society work. Eco tour and whale watching companies are operating at reduced capacity. As you can see from our reports, they are on the water, providing us with much needed sightings information. You might consider a trip with them during your local 'stay-cation'. Stay safe and healthy. Event schedules will be posted as they become available.
Our yearly Dwight Hall fundraising dinner, instrumental to maintain all of our basic programs and online presence, cancelled for 2020, is scheduled for April 24, 2021. We trust that by then we will be able to hold a successful event. Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated.
Instagram and Twitter:
Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter at WhalesDolphins accounts. Follow us for regular updates and photos.
Coming Soon:
Our New Archive Dataset Interface is in the works, but we don't want to hold up any ongoing research. To access 23,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
Whales and Dolphins BC Website:
Teaching Resources: Teachers can download information as needed for classes. Have you taken our Orca and Humpback Quizzes yet?
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Live streaming Web Camera YouTube Channel from Powell River changes positions to look towards Texada – Vancouver Island – Savary and up towards Cortez.
Thank You to our Volunteers and Contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2020-025
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed Sep 02 2020
09:00 • Biggs Orca heading north towards Sonora Resort on Sonora Island, Yuculta Rapids. ▫ Second Hand
09:49 • Biggs Orca in Barber Passage off Stuart Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
11:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s,T102◦ off Connis Point, Pryce Channel.
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales, T101s and T102, in Pryce Channel
Wed, 2 Sep 2020 – 2 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales, T101s and T102, in Pryce Channel
Wed, 2 Sep 2020 – 2 items
11:37 • Biggs Orca heading south at Kellsey Point along Stuart Island, Yuculta Rapids.
12:50 • 4 Biggs Orca off Connis Point, Pryce Channel. Closer to the mainland.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
13:04 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T090B,T090s◦ off Bartlett Islet, Calm Channel. The pointy male observed is T090B.
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales, T090s, in Calm Channel
Wed, 2 Sep 2020 – 1 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales, T090s, in Calm Channel
Wed, 2 Sep 2020 – 1 items
14:00 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading west abeam Davis Point near East Thurlow Island, Nodales Channel. ▫ Second Hand
15:32 • Biggs Orca ◦T090s◦ heading south off Frederic Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
17:25 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading east near Snout Point, Toba Inlet. ▫ Leaving the Scene
18:30 • 4 Biggs Orca in front of Blind Channel Resort on the east side of West Thurlow Island, Blind Channel. Observed out front for about an hour and one big fin was present.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
20:45 • Biggs Orca milling around Mayne Passage. Possibly T090s.
Natalie Evans, Blind Channel Resort
Thu Sep 03 2020
05:40 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ slowly headed around Shell Point, East Thurlow Island, Blind Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
08:55 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca slowly moving, heading south-east near Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s,T019s,T049As,T090s◦ heading south at Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
11:00 • Biggs Orca heading north between Black Creek and Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
11:15 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s,T019s,T049As,T090s◦ heading south off Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. Left the scene at 11:35am.
11:36 • Biggs Orca ◦T036As◦ heading north off Salmon Point, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
13:00 • Biggs Orca heading north 1/4 mile off Shelter Point south of Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
14:18 • Biggs Orca about half way between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Small group. Looks like feeding; one just leapt out.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:31 • Biggs Orca ◦T036As◦ approaching Campbell River, Anchor Inn, Discovery Passage. Close to shore. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
14:59 • Biggs Orca ◦T036As◦ heading north off the Campbell River Fishing Pier, Discovery Passage.
15:10 • 5 Biggs Orca between Vivian Island and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales between Vivian Island and Harwood Island
Thu, 3 Sep 2020 – 3 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River

Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales between Vivian Island and Harwood Island
Thu, 3 Sep 2020 – 3 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
15:24 • Biggs Orca ◦T036As◦ moving slowly, in front of Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Bucking the tide.
Fri Sep 04 2020
15:38 • Biggs Orca heading north between Francisco Point and Marina Island, Sutil Channel. VHF report from Straitwatch. ▫ Second Hand
Sat Sep 05 2020
09:15 • Biggs Orca at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. Information from Josh by VHF. ▫ Second Hand
09:30 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north at No Name Creek, Discovery Passage.
10:23 • Biggs Orca ◦T010s◦ at Elk Bay, pointed right at Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. Moving at 8 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:30 • Biggs Orca heading into the narrows by Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. Pod observed.
Esther Hollink, Brown’s Bay Resort
11:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T100s◦ bucking tide, south of Browns Bay. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:10 • Biggs Orca ◦T100s◦ bucking tide, in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:42 • Biggs Orca heading south at Ripple Rock, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
13:40 • Biggs Orca coming out of Seymour Narrows, heading towards Race Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jason Fitzgerald, Big Animal Encounters
13:40 • Biggs Orca heading south, getting close to Race Point, Discovery Passage.
14:32 • Biggs Orca ◦T100s◦ moving quickly, heading south, passing the mill in Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Orca were moving at 7 knots. Left the scene at 14:45 when the Orca were off Painter’s Lodge still southbound.
19:40 • est. 6-10 Biggs Orca at Stag Bay, heading towards Cortez Reef, Baker Passage.
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales, T002Cs
Thu, 3 Sep 2020 – 2 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales, T002Cs
Thu, 3 Sep 2020 – 2 items
HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed Sep 02 2020
08:20 • Humpback Whales beside Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
08:25 • Humpback Whales off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
10:50 • Humpback Whales at Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
10:53 • Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy.
11:40 • 1 Humpback Whales milling, off Yorke Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
14:29 • 9 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. Five seen close to the south west side of Mitlenatch and four closer to Vancouver Island.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
15:06 • 2 Humpback Whales off Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
15:06 • Humpback Whales towards Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay mid Sutil Channel. Two groups were identified.
15:45 • 3 Humpback Whales north west of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
16:58 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north off Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
18:10 • 2 Humpback Whales off Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel. Mom and calf were observed.
18:44 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Observed putting on a show.
Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC
Thu Sep 03 2020
06:45 • Humpback Whales heading north off Cook Bay, Texada Island, Sabine Channel.
07:00 • Humpback Whales off Water Bay, Thormanby Islands, Welcome Passage.
07:15 • Humpback Whales out from Halfmoon Bay, Welcome Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
07:21 • Humpback Whales heading north off the park at Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
07:40 • 1 Humpback Whales heading west off Hickey Point, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
07:45 • Humpback Whales seen from a distance at Viner Point heading toward Evans Bay up the south side of Read Island, Sutil Channel. Small and large blows observed. ▫ Second Hand
09:41 • 3 Humpback Whales south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:00 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Spilsbury Point, Hernando Island, Baker Passage.
10:35 • 3 Humpback Whales milling, just off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
11:00 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ resting, heading west 1 nautical mile west of Mink Island, Desolation Sound. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
JR, Powell River, BC
12:07 • 2 Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
13:30 • 2 Humpback Whales at Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
13:30 • 1 Humpback Whales toward Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
13:51 • 1 Humpback Whales east of Kinghorn Island, Desolation Sound.
13:51 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ between Kinghorn Island and Cortes Island, Lewis Channel.
14:13 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, 1 NM east of Cortez Reef, Baker Passage.
14:43 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
15:37 • Humpback Whales on the north side of Mitlenatch Island.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
16:08 • 3 Humpback Whales between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. They just dove.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales Breaching in front of Powell River
Thu, 3 Sep 2020 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales Breaching in front of Powell River
Thu, 3 Sep 2020 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
16:13 • 2 Humpback Whales pointed towards Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
16:13 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Viner Point abeam Whaletown, Sutil Channel.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
21:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north just past Killam Bay, Jervis Inlet. Stayed in front of our place until midnight, blowing and breaching. ▫ Observed from Shore
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Jervis Inlet at night
Thu, 3 Sep 2020 – 1 items
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet, BC

Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Jervis Inlet at night
Thu, 3 Sep 2020 – 1 items
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet, BC
Fri Sep 04 2020
–:– • est. 6-8 Humpback Whales between Savary Island and Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait. Seen just rolling around. Observed during the afternoon. ▫ Second Hand
07:15 • Humpback Whales off Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel. Multiple whales.
07:20 • Humpback Whales top of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
07:30 • 3+ Humpback Whales out front of Coulter Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
08:00 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCY Cirque◦ near Dogfish Bay at the southeast end of Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Cirque with another 2 humpbacks.
08:34 • 3 Humpback Whales off Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
08:34 • est. 5 Humpback Whales off Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel.
09:10 • 6 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading north-west about half way between Grassy Point on Hornby Island and Texada Island, Georgia Strait. 2 pods of 3 each. Each pod had 2 adults and 1 calf. ▫ Observed from Shore
Rick Bennett, Hornby Island, BC
10:00 • 1 Humpback Whales near Dogfish Bay at the southeast end of Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
10:28 • 10 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:32 • 2 Humpback Whales heading west mid channel off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm, Sutil Channel.
10:36 • 2 Humpback Whales at the south end of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
10:50 • 1 Humpback Whales heading west on the north side of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
11:40 • 3 Humpback Whales off Kin Beach Park north of Comox, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
13:08 • 3 Humpback Whales off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
13:49 • 3 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
14:32 • 3 Humpback Whales trap feeding, off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Jason Fitzgerald, Big Animal Encounters
16:20 • est. 2 Humpback Whales heading north-west between Gabriola Island and Bowen Island, Georgia Strait. Observation from distance (400m+), so all observations are estimates: leisurely surfacing and waving of pectoral fin. Seen in the vicinity (200-m) of a sailboat that was stopping. ▫ From Ferry
SR, BC Ferries
Sat Sep 05 2020
08:10 • 1 Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
08:15 • Humpback Whales mid-channel between Francisco Point and the bottom of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
08:20 • Humpback Whales off Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
08:50 • 1 Humpback Whales right off Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Calm Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
08:54 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, at the south end of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Mom and calf seen; mom with all white under fluke.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
08:55 • Humpback Whales close to shore off Read Island, Drew Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
11:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between Marina Island shack and Quadra Island cell tower, Sutil Channel.
11:39 • 1 Humpback Whales logging, on the ferry line between Viner Point and Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
11:45 • 2 Humpback Whales on the reef at Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
11:50 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, by Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
12:00 • Humpback Whales off Kellsey Point, Stuart Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
12:10 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north at the Spoil Grounds south of Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
12:14 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north, south of Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
12:37 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ doing circles, south of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
12:47 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy.
13:14 • 2 Humpback Whales at Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy. Within the fishing fleet.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
13:21 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south, half a mile north of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy. One of the whales was a calf.
13:52 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north, mid-channel between Dogfish Bay and Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
14:00 • 1 Humpback Whales 50 ft off the beach at Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
14:20 • 2 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading north, northeast of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Orange substance seen at base of fluke. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
VH, Comox, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale Diving near Mitlenatch Island
Sat, 5 Sep 2020 – 3 items
VH, Comox, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale Diving near Mitlenatch Island
Sat, 5 Sep 2020 – 3 items
VH, Comox, BC
14:25 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south between Mitlenatch Island and Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
14:43 • 2 Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Jason Fitzgerald, Big Animal Encounters
15:14 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north towards the reef, on the northeast side of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Observed to be mom and calf.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
15:52 • 3 Humpback Whales 0.5-nm east of Mitlenatch Island.
Jason Fitzgerald, Big Animal Encounters
18:44 • est. 9+ Humpback Whales between Marina Island and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Mathematician, the Humpback Whale
Sat, 5 Sep 2020 – 4 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Mathematician, the Humpback Whale
Sat, 5 Sep 2020 – 4 items
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Sep 02 2020
07:00 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading north at Granite Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
10:40 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins milling, off Davis Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. Observed around fishing boats. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Thu Sep 03 2020
07:40 • PWS Dolphins off Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
07:50 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins foraging, Stimpson Reef west of Port Neville, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Fri Sep 04 2020
13:00 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins foraging, Okis Islands, Okisollo Channel.
16:00 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins bow riding, heading south, Strait of Juan de Fuca. It appears there were Northern Right Whale dolphins travelling with them, and they were breaching, belly flopping and bow riding too. Seen in the Juan De Fuca Canyon area. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Trevor Burnett, Seaspan ULC
17:25 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins heading east near the beacon in the Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait. Near the beacon.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sat Sep 05 2020
17:05 • PWS Dolphins heading south above Deepwater Bay, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
DALLS PORPOISE
Sat Sep 05 2020
15:00 • est. 25 Dalls Porpoise foraging, at Lee Islands, Nodales Channel.
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Wed Sep 02 2020
12:25 • Harbour Porpoise milling, Shirley Point, East Redonda Island, Waddington Channel. A group was observed.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
Thu Sep 03 2020
07:40 • Harbour Porpoise off Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait.
14:20 • Harbour Porpoise milling, off Orchard Bay, Nelson Island, Malaspina Strait.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River

SIGHTINGS MEDIA
we welcome your sighting reports, photographs, video and audio recordings. please review our
media submission guidelines
receive sightings update
eMail notices

Archive Explorer

Archive Explorer navigates 21,000+ Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings.

*Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices

Archive Explorer dives into the Coastal Cetacean world. View Cetacean sighting locations, photos and videos:

  • All species including Orca, Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
  • Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
  • Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
  • Witness a close-up Orca encounter video in Port Alberni harbour
  • Follow the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
  • Track "KC", the ever popular Humpback's movements
  • Locate any of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
  • Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)

Archive Explorer Help Page explains many advanced functions

Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback

COMING SOON: Our New Archive Dataset Interface is in the works, but we don't want to hold up any ongoing research.

To access 21,000+ sightings in our database to November issue #2019-049 in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here.

the magazine accepts submissions of links to published articles and media of interest to our readers. we welcome original articles, letters, notices, photography, video and audio files.

original material guidelines

  • notices: 100 words max.;
  • letters & articles: 500 words max.
  • you or your organization must be authors of the work and are solely responsible for its content. the magazine gives no assurance material submitted will be published.
  • Review our media submission guidelines
  • SIGHTINGS MEDIA
    we welcome your sighting reports, photographs, video and audio recordings. please review our
    media submission guidelines
    receive sightings update
    eMail notices