LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Whales (Ecotourism): Killer Whales
built 803 days ago
Gray Whales are present off Monterey from December through May. Off Monterey, Gray Whales migrate south from December through mid February, with peak numbers occurring during mid January. Whales migrate north from mid February through May, peaking during mid March. Most adult and juvenile whales pass Monterey on their way to Alaska by mid April. Mother gray whales with their newly born calves pass Monterey during April and May. The mother/calf pairs are most susceptible to Killer Whale attacks in the Bay during this period.
Source:
Transient whales feed primarily on marine mammals. Transients observed in waters of B.C. and Washington State have been seen preying on seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, and other species of whales. Their diet... isn't strictly limited to marine mammals. Transient killer whales have also been observed eating sea birds, and the stomach of a dead transient whale recovered up in Alaska contained the remains of a moose. Apparently the moose chose the wrong moment to swim from one Alaskan island to another--something that moose, deer and other land animals frequently do.
Source:
A family of killer whales glides through Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park. Named by scientists and schoolchildren, the mother, Aurora, at left, swims with her daughter, Angiak, middle, and son, Herring Pete, easily spotted by his huge fin. These orcas are classified as residents, fish-eaters that tend to visit certain areas. Two other groups of orcas have been classified along the west coast of North America: Transient meat-eaters that travel great distances in search of dolphins, seals, and other prey; and offshores, lesser known orcas that stay farther out to sea. Study of these groups has revealed that killer whales are far more diverse in diet and behavior than previously thought. They're ... clannish, relying on extended family networks to pass on behaviors crucial to survival, like corralling schools of fish or hunting dolphins and seals.
Source:
Killer whales are social animals that live in stable family-related groups. Killer whales display a high level of care for their offspring. In addition to the mothers, various pod members (mainly adolescent females) perform most of the care for the calves. As with most mammals, killer whales are very protective of their young. Killer whales are often compared to wolves because both species are top predators, maintain complex social relationships, and hunt cooperatively.
Source:
The rapid and nearly incessant travel of the killer whales around Kodiak led to higher population estimates than new research supports. It is hard to predict where these fascinating whales will appear. Keep your eyes peeled.
Source:
Killer whales are top predators—kings of the sea, with no natural enemies other than humans. They have distinctive black bodies with white patches, particularly over the eyes and around the belly. Females grow to about 26 feet long (8 meters); males, 28 feet (8.5 meters).
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Killer Whales