Is October a decent time to whalewatch for orca pods in Vancouver, B.C.? Question about migratory patterns in the Pacific Northwest?
Is October a decent time to see orca pods in Vancouver, B.C.? I've gone whale watching in early spring in Seattle, Washington; mid-summer in Monterrey, California; and lower Alaska in late summer, over the past few years, and I've yet to see any orcas. (I've seen plenty of humpback, grey, and minke whales)! So I've booked a trip to go whale-watching in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) this Saturday (October), and was hoping maybe the Fall season would be more fruitful?
I know you can never predict the sightings of a wild creature, but I was wondering what the migratory patterns of orca pods are in October in the Pacific Northwest, and what the possibilities are that they may be passing through Vancouver? Any personal experiences of seeing orcas in Vancouver in the Fall?
Best Answer
Pnuts provided an excellent answer above ^^^. I'm just providing a delayed update on what my personal experience was (for others who might be wondering about their chances to see orcas in October in Vancouver). Originally, this was just going to be a comment, but I wanted to add some photos.
YES, I finally saw not one, but saw 3 orcas!!!! One mother and 2 calves. And we heard them before we saw them! They apparently were not from a local pod, but were transitory ones migrating south for the winter, and were of the mammal eating variety. It was an incredible experience! I felt like I was walking on air for quite sometime. (Oh, and there was plenty of other wildlife too -- bald eagles, seals, sea lions, etc). Just bundle up! It was pouring rain when I was out there, but so worth it!
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Can you see whales in Vancouver in October?
October is generally the last month of Vancouver Island's whale watching season. Minke whales and humpback whales start to migrate southwards during this time and so October is generally your last opportunity to see these species. Killer whales may be spotted also.What is the best time to see Orca whales in BC?
The most important part of viewing whales in B.C. is deciding the best time to go: Orcas: June through the end of September. Peak orca numbers and sightings tend to be from mid-July until mid-September.Do whales migrate in October?
When to See Gray Whales in California. Gray whales start swimming south from Alaska in October, generally passing the coast off San Diego from December through January and again in February and March when they return to their feeding grounds.What time of year are orcas in Vancouver?
The best time of year to see orcas in Vancouver is between May and October when spawning river salmon attract the whales. That said, while resident killer whales feed mostly on salmon, transient orcas eat small mammals, so it's not uncommon to see transient killer whales, too.BEST Place to See Orcas in North America | San Juan Island, Washington
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Images: Olya Kobruseva, Dids, Steve Johnson, Dids