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Our Whale Watching trips are not only an exciting way to see whales and other marine life in their natural habitats but are also educational. Onboard trained Naturalists are there to give you information about the various marine animals you may see as well as the environment in which they live.
Orcas are highly intelligent and social animals, traveling in groups called pods. Their fierce predatory style won them the nickname of “killer whale” in spite of the fact that Orcas, both in the wild and in captivity, show incredible curiosity, awareness and gentleness toward people. Orcas are black in color with white undersides as well as white markings located behind the eyes and dorsal fin. Male Orcas average 27 feet in length and weigh eight tons. Females are smaller, growing to an average 23 feet and weighing six tons.
Gray whales are the most coastal of the baleen whales (whales lacking teeth) and are often found within a few miles of shore as they migrate from Alaska to Baja. Gray whales have baleen (a hairy substance) instead of teeth. To feed, they fill their vast mouths with mud from the sea bottom and filter it through their baleen to capture amphipods and other small animals. This is the only type of whale to feed in this manner. The average adult Gray whale reaches 50 feet and weighs up to 35 tons.
Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whales. Minke whales are dark grey to black with a white underside and a white patch on both front flippers. They often have a pale chevron behind their heads. Adults grow to an average size of 30 feet and weigh between five and ten tons and females tend to be larger than males. The Minke are usually solitary but may be seen in groups of up to three whales.
Dall’s porpoises are the largest porpoises in the region reaching six feet or more in length and weighing up to 500 pounds. Their body is black with a white belly and flanks. The top of their dorsal fin is white as well. They travel in pods that average 10-20 individuals but may gather in the hundreds at exceptionally good feeding grounds. The behavior of these animals has been aptly described as hyperactive. They can swim over 35 mph.
This is both the most common marine mammal in the area and the easiest to spot. Harbor seals are true seals. They have short necks, small front flippers and are unable to pull their hind flippers under their bodies. Harbor seals’ distinct torpedo shape is the result of a thick layer of fat, called blubber, that insulates them from the frigid waters of the Pacific Northwest. These seals are incredible hunters and are able to dive up to 600 feet deep and stay submerged over 25 minutes to find their prey of fish.
The Steller Sea Lion is the largest in the region and the least commonly seen. They are shy animals and their numbers were so depleted in the 1960s and 70s that they remain on the threatened list today. The males are much larger than the females averaging nine feet, 1,500 pounds and seven feet, 600 pounds respectively. They are light brown to blond but appear tan in the water. The males also develop a thickened neck and mane as they age. Steller Sea Lions are opportunistic feeders and may be able to dive to 600 feet or more.
This species is the most abundant sea lion in the area even though they are almost exclusively male. Most females remain at their breeding grounds in California year round while the males migrate north. California Sea Lions are dark brown and appear black when in the water. The males average eight feet in length and weigh around 800 pounds. The males also develop a prominent raised forehead called a sagittal crest. Females average five feet and 250 pounds.Their dog-like barks are a sure indication of their presence.
The Geoduck (pronounced gooey-duck) the world’s largest burrowing clam, and Puget Sound supports most of the world’s population. An average Geoduck has a shell length of eight inches and a siphon that extends another nine inches even when fully retracted. Older monsters can have shells over one and a half feet with three foot siphons and can exceed 20 pounds. To see and perhaps capture a Geoduck requires a very low tide or diving equipment.
The largest species in the world, this octopus can obtain an arm span of over 25 feet, but a seven to eight feet arm span is more common. Though they grow to an amazing size, they live only three to five years and mate only once in their lifetime. Octopuses have eight arms lined with suction cups and highly developed eyesight. Octopuses are able to change the color of their bodies to blend in with their environment, aiding them in hunting and hiding from predators. These animals are highly intelligent and in captivity, have been taught to negotiate mazes and open jars containing food.
Sunflower Sea Stars are quite common in these waters and can regularly be viewed during low tides. They are the largest species of sea star in the world sometimes growing to a diameter of three to four feet and possessing as many as 24 arms. Each arm has hundreds of tube feet on the underside that work like suction cups enabling the animals to move around and cling to rocks or pilings.
Scallops are bivalves, mollusks with two shells attached by a hinge. They can attach themselves to rocks with byssal threads but are also able to swim through the water by flapping their two shells. They use this skill to escape predators such as sea stars. They are usually found in beds under 150 feet or in tide pools during very low tides.
Barnacles are inter-tidal crustaceans found living on hard surfaces such as rocks. As larva, barnacles resemble crabs and live amongst the coastal plankton. When adulthood approaches, the barnacle finds a rock or other appropriate surface to live permanently. Once a place is chosen, the barnacle flips over and glues its head to the surface using a very powerful adhesive. It then secretes a shell around itself and lives out its life filtering food out of the water with its bristly feet.
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