You never know what you’re going to see at Southeast Alaska Fishing Adventures Lodge. Some guests spy hump back whales bubble feeding near the dock, a black bear foraging for mussels on the beach, or eagles disputing vocally over salmon.
If you‘re really lucky, you may be fortunate enough to see killer whales, also known as orcas (Orcinus orca).
Killer whales are apex predators, as no other animals prey on them. They are known for their black and white blodges similar to the pattern and colors of a dairy cow. These massive toothed whales are almost as big as a school bus (23-32‘), weigh 1.5 -6 tons, and can live 50-80 years.
Killer whales are usually mistaken as whales, but they are actually classified as dolphins.
This pod of orcas that visited Southeast Alaska Adventures had 10-20 whales in it’s group. Most of the whales were cows and calves, but we could see a few bulls in the distance scouting for food. Orcas eat king salmon, seals, dolphins, and even whales. However, each pod distinctly eats a certain type of animal. The parents pass on traditional hunting methods and skills that their calves carry on for generations.