Killer Whales on Central Coast

The Killer Whales are here – and possibly in greater numbers than usual.

Photos courtesy Whale Watching Center

(NEWPORT, Ore.) - It’s a little known aspect of whale watching on Oregon’s coast, but the middle of April is also Orca season; usually in the Depoe Bay and Newport areas, but often seen from Cascade Head all the way down to Florence.

The killer whales are what are known as “transient” whales, meaning officials don’t know where they come from. They’re also more predatory, living off seals and baby Gray whales.

Morris Grover, with the Whale Watch Spoken Here program, said they spotted a much greater number than usual – and much earlier than usual – during the Whale Watch Week in March.

Carrie Newell, of Whale Research EcoExcursions in Depoe Bay, spotted two off central coast waters in early April.

Catching sight of them has been difficult in recent weeks because of large waves on the Oregon coast, which has made spotting any kind of whale difficult. But Grover finds it interesting so many were spotted so early.

“We had six or seven sightings of them during that week,” Grover said. “We always have them during Whale Watch, but this is four or five times more than normal. We also saw a lot more baby Gray whales during that time. While we don’t know why the Orcas showed up so soon, we think it’s possible they figured out the babies were around and were hunting them.”

Grover said these Orcas are smaller and more shark-like in appearance than what are nicknamed the “friendly” whales, which visit here from the San Juan Islands and live on salmon.

These baby-hunting whales usually show up around April 15, then stay for a few weeks.

They will often hang out near the jetties of Yaquina Bay in Newport. Sometimes, they come into the bay, chasing seals and sea lions, if they can’t find baby Gray whales.

One sighting in recent years was of a Killer whale chasing a seal all the way through Yaquina Bay.

“It’s all food related,” Grover said. “They come up here all the time. Basically, they will take the easiest prey.”

To catch sight of these killer whales, just like spotting any whale, Grover suggests patience, and head to a high vantage point. The Newport area has many of these, such as the lighthouse at Yaquina Bay, the Yaquina Head area, Don Davis Memorial Park in Nye Beach, and nearby at Cape Foulweather. The headquarters for the Whale Watch Spoken Here program is in Depoe Bay, at the seawall, and another good spot for seeing them as well.

For more information call the Whale Watching Center - 541-765-3304

Photos courtesy Whale Watching Center