There’s a large population of killer whales in California. Also known as orcas, killer whales are the largest member of the dolphin family. These black and white apex predators are as massive and intimidating as they are intelligent and beautiful.
Your friends here at Harbor Breeze Cruises are eager to share the following seven facts about killer whales in Southern California with you, and we hope you’ll find them just as fascinating as we do!
Fact #1: Sightings of Killer Whales in California Have Soared
There’s been an influx of killer whales off the California coast. A news article published by KTLA in December 2023 mentions that our captains and crew at Harbor Breeze spotted 61 orcas that year. Experts speculate that the killer whales in Southern California might be lured to this area based on warmer waters and successful hunts.
Fact #2: Three Killer Whale Ecotypes Reside in the Pacific Ocean
The most common types of killer whales in California are categorized as transient, resident, and offshore. Offshore orcas prefer to stay farther out in the ocean, where they can eat large prey such as sharks, rays, and tuna. Transient and resident killer whales in California, on the other hand, prefer to remain relatively close to the coast. Transient orcas primarily hunt marine mammals, including seals and sea lions, while resident orcas feed on salmon and other fish.
Fact #3: Their Socialization Skills Are Impressive
According to our friends at Aquarium of the Pacific, “Resident orcas indulge in a number of social behaviors very similar in type and number to that of humpbacks: breaching, flipper slapping, tail lobbing, and splashing at the surface. They also chase, head stand, and play with objects such as kelp and sea jellies.” Killer whales in California seem to enjoy expressing themselves by emitting different whistles and calls, and local researchers continue to study the intriguing ways in which they communicate.
Fact #4: Just As Impressive? Their Social Structure
Killer whales in California have a complex social structure that consists of subpods, pods, clans, communities, and herds. According to National Wildlife Federation, their social hierarchies place females at the top. Their social structure allows killer whales to coordinate their hunting strategies, protect their most vulnerable, and form strong bonds between members, especially those that mate and raise offspring.
Fact #5: Their Biggest Predators Don’t Live in the Ocean
Killer whales off the California coast—and killer whales in general—sit at the top of the food chain and, therefore, don’t have any natural predators. Unfortunately, we humans must count ourselves as their biggest current threat. According to California Killer Whale Project, “The northern resident killer whales are listed as threatened, numbering around 300 whales, and the southern resident killer whales are endangered, with only 74 in their population.” Toxic pollution, diminishing prey availability, and other stressors could lead to a decline of killer whales in Southern California.
Fact #6: Transient Killer Whales Are Also Known as Biggs Killer Whales
Transient killer whales are sometimes called Biggs killer whales. They’re named after the late Dr. Michael Bigg, a Canadian Fisheries and Oceans scientist who is widely considered the founder of modern whale research. In the 1970s, Biggs began conducting research on killer whales on the West Coast. Georgia Strait Alliance writes, “Through countless hours of observation on the water and tireless hours spent looking at photo proofs under a magnifying glass, Dr. Bigg was the first to discover that killer whales can be individually identified because they each have unique saddle patches, dorsal fin shapes, and nicks, scratches and scars. Being able to identify individuals allowed scientists to understand the social relationships and travel patterns of these killer whales.”
Fact #7: Killer Whales in California Were Culturally Significant Among the Chumash
The Chumash people of California carved stone effigies of killer whales; one of these effigies belongs to the Seattle Art Museum. A webpage that spotlights the piece in their collection states, “Such carved stone effigies were used as charms to ensure luck in fishing or hunting along the Southern California coast (from present-day Malibu to Morro Bay).” Knowing that killer whales in California held such significance to the Chumash demonstrates that these magnificent creatures were inextricably linked to their culture, spirituality, and even their survival.
Try to Spot All Kinds of Whales With Us!
Our captains, crew members, and passengers have occasionally spotted pods of orcas on our trips on the Pacific Ocean. Seeing killer whales in Southern California is a humbling experience that serves as a reminder that these mammals deserve the attention they so often get from conservationists, scientists, and policymakers. Their survival is crucial to the complex ecosystem that exists within oceans worldwide.
We invite you to join us for a family friendly cruise on one of our eco-friendly catamarans. Our whale watching cruises depart daily, and we encourage you to bring your camera! For more information or to purchase tickets, give us a call at 562-432-4900 or visit our website. We’d love to be able to spot killer whales off the California coast with you and yours, and we promise you an unforgettable trip that will get you in close proximity to killer whales in Southern California and, in that sense, deepen your connection to the ocean and its inhabitants—big and small.
