Humpbacks, other Baleen Whales and Dolphins
Humpbacks
Humpback whales are one of the largest baleen whales commonly seen in the Salish Sea, measuring 15 meters long and weighing 40 tonnes. Humpbacks were originally designated as threatened in 1982 by COSEWIC and SARA listed as endangered in 2003. In May of 2011, the species was re-examined and down-listed to species of special concern. Although the population is recovering and no longer considered to be threatened, they are not without threats. Noise disturbance, habitat degradation, entanglement and vessel strikes still pose a risks to the population.
Humpback whales have a series of pleats in the skin of the neck that allow their throat to expand during feeding. Humpbacks predate on krill and small fish, they do not echolocate but rather employ various methods of foraging including, lunge-feeding, bubble net feeding and trap-feeding (a behaviour only known on our coast). Humpbacks are also known for their acrobatic displays including breaching, spy hopping, tail lobbing and pec slapping. Humpbacks are frequently seen interacting with other animals such as dolphins. Male humpbacks are known for the complex vocalization we recognize as whale song.
At the moment humpback numbers are on the rise in BC. However, this good news requires significantly increased attentiveness and care on the part of boaters and kayakers. The dangers posed by proximity to humpbacks is not just to the whales. Given their lack of echolocation, humpback whales are far less aware of physical objects, such as boats or kayaks, than killer whales are. This may lead a humpback to surface near or even directly beneath such a vessel. Since a humpback whale can be the size of a bus, one surfacing under or breaching over a small boat or kayak can have a significant impact on a mariner’s life. Additionally, when humpbacks dive, they do not always travel in the same direction or remain under water for a significant amount of time, as is sometimes believed. It is entirely possible for a humpback whale to dive only to resurface again very quickly in the opposite direction they were originally traveling. If a boater mistakenly assumes that a whale dive means it's safe to progress in the whale's vicinity, this could result in a collision that would cause harm to all. Therefore, as always, it is best to err on the side of caution and give all whales a very wide berth, for their sake and our own.
Common Whales & Dolphins
Grey whales are large baleen whales that range from 11-14 meters in length. They are a mottled grey colour, and lack a dorsal fin, in its place they have a series on knuckles on their backs. Grey whales are also often covered with barnacles and whale lice. At the surface grey whales are very unobtrusive and are often called breathing rocks.
Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whales in the North Pacific growing up to 10 meters in length. They are black or dark grey with a white belly and white bands on their pectoral flippers. Minke’s are even more conspicuous at the surface, rarely fluking before a dive and rarely exhibit surface activity.
Harbour porpoises grow to a maximum length of 1.8 meters and are the smallest cetacean in BC. They rarely bring their full body out of the water, so you normally only see their dorsal fin. They typically travel in small groups and can be found all throughout the Salish Sea. Harbour porpoises have been found to occasionally mate with Dall’s porpoises forming hybrid individuals.
Dall’s porpoises grow to a maximum length of 2.2 meters, have a black body with white patches on their dorsal fin and lower flank. Dall’s porpoises are the fastest cetacean in BC able to reach speeds of 55 km/hr. They are often seen in larger groups and can sometimes be confused as ‘baby’ killer whales.
Pacific white-sided dolphins are black with grey stripes on their sides with white bellies. They are often observed in large groups, with an average of 60 individuals but can reach sizes of 1,000 individuals. Pacific white-sided dolphins are very surface active, often leaping out of the water and often engage in bow riding.