Southern Resident Killer Whale

From Salish Sea Wiki


Wiki Rules
  • Wiki text does not reflect the policy or opinion of any agency or organization
  • Please adhere to our social contract
  • Complain here, and be nice.


Link to List of Workgroups Link to List of Topics Link to List of Places

Link to List of Efforts Link to List of Products Link to List of Documents Link to List of Graphics Link to List of Websites

Link to Headwater Sites Link to Lowland Watershed Sites Link to Floodplain Sites Link to Delta Sites Link to Embayment Sites Link to Beach Sites Link to Rocky Headland Sites

Southern Resident Killer Whale, are a group of Killer Whale or Orca that spend most of their time moving back and forth between the Salish Sea in winter, and the Washington Outer Coast in Summer. They specialize in Chinook Salmon as their primary prey, and form stable social units. The current population is organized into three pods, with a population of 73 individuals as of 2019. They currently suffer from starvation and low infant mortality, and are affected by Marine Traffic Noise, toxin loading in body fat, and scarcity of their primary prey Chinook Salmon due to hatcheries, overharvest, and habitat destruction. They were listed as endangered in Canada in 2003 and in the United States in 2005.

Notes