What and How Humpback Whales Eat

Humpback Whales are baleen whales. Baleen, instead of teeth, is formed in fine strands from keratin. Keratin is the same substance your body uses to create fingernails, hair and even some of your skin. Like fingernails, baleen becomes flexible when wet allowing the whale to filter out the water while keeping food in its’ mouth. In addition to this Humpbacks have ventral pleats allowing the whale to expand its’ throat to accommodate many gallons/litres of water together with food. This combination allows the whale to gather many krill or fish in one mouthful and push the water past the baleen while keeping the krill or fish to swallow.

So what do they eat? Krill is a highly nutritious favourite, similar to shrimp or prawns, but tiny usually about 1 inch or 2.5 cm long. They tend to swarm giving the opportunity for the whale to take that large mouthful of food and water. Frequently we notice that the whale blow has a pink tinge that is not caused by the sun reflecting, but by the amount of pink coloured krill they’ve had. Even their poop is red, which sometimes startles people into thinking they are bleeding. Other foods Humpbacks eat include smaller fish such as caplin, pilchards and herring. These fish also eat krill, so one way or another Humpbacks have the nutritious benefit of krill.

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.