May 25, 2025, 10:30 AM - Hunting around Howe Sound with the T086As, T086A1s, and T101s

Another sunny day greeted us as we prepared for our whale watching adventure. Today, we were heading across the Strait of Georgia following reports of whales in Howe Sound. It was an exciting ride, waves rocking the boat and salt spray greeting us along the way.

Eventually, we made it across and found the whales we were after: a group of orcas travelling through the Sound. Not too long ago, this area faced significant environmental challenges due to industrial activity. The main polluters in the past were the pulp mills, chemical plants, and a copper mine that took advantage of the easy access to water the Sound provides. Over time, runoff from these industries poisoned the waters and drove away many species.

Thankfully, the long-term impact of this pollution was eventually recognized. After a great deal of time, effort, and investment, the area has seen a remarkable recovery. The restoration efforts have become a global example of successful conservation. We witnessed some of those benefits today, watching orcas happily splashing through waters once considered inhospitable.

Not only were the orcas passing through, they had found a meal. We watched as the whales, identified as the T086s, T086As, and T101s, finished their hunt.

T086A Eider ♀ (1988)
T086A4 Akia ♀ (2016)
T086A5 Siku (2024)

T086A1 Nahanni ♀ (~2001)
T086A1B Denali (2023)

T101 Reef ♀ (≤1969)
T101A Rush ♂ (1993)
T101B Lagoon ♂ (1997)

Sometimes it can be tricky to tell whether whales are hunting or socializing, but today we had a clear indicator: gulls! Orcas work together to tear their prey into smaller pieces, and bits often float to the surface—perfect snacks for opportunistic gulls. These seabirds swoop in and quickly grab the scraps, flying off before devouring them mid-air. Since most of the feeding happens underwater, the gulls offer a helpful clue to what’s going on below the surface.

While the orcas hunted, we witnessed a variety of surface behaviours, including tail slaps and high-speed surfacings that gave us glimpses of their white bellies. It was thrilling to watch them fill their bellies, but after an hour, it was time to leave them to it and begin our journey back to Nanaimo.

Our first stop on the return trip was the White Islets, where we found a group of Steller Sea Lions lounging together. Areas where pinnipeds like sea lions and seals haul out of the water are known as haul-outs. The White Islets make for a striking one—the steep slopes and pale rocks provide a dramatic backdrop for these massive animals. Steller Sea Lions never fail to amaze us with their size: males can weigh up to 2,800 pounds, and females reach an impressive 800 pounds.

Next, we stopped on the other side of the Strait, where we found a group of Harbour Seals sunning themselves on another rocky haul-out, with a bald eagle keeping watch overhead. Time spent out of the water is crucial for pinnipeds. Water draws heat from their bodies efficiently, so while their fur and blubber provide insulation, they still need to haul out regularly to regulate their body temperature.

Finally, we made our way back to Nanaimo, satisfied with all the wildlife we encountered. Our onboard naturalists, Aly Kohlman and Desarae Poier, captured some amazing photos throughout the tour, which you can enjoy below!

T086A5 Siku surfacing beside their Nibling, T086A1B Denali. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T101 Reef surfacing in the waves. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T086A4 Akia surfacing with a gull behind. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T086A Eider surfacing beside someone else’s tail. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T101A Rush surfacing with a splash. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T086A5 Siku surfacing during the hunt. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Someone’s tail during the hunt. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Tails up! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T086A1 Nahanni. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Someone’s tail in the area with lots of scratches on it. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T086A Eider surfacing, showing off her distinct notches. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T101B Lagoon with his intense saddle patch scarring. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T101B surfacing along the shoreline. Photo by Desarae Poier.

One of the T101 boys with their tail in the air. Photo by Desarae Poier.

T086A4 surfacing in front of the crowd. Photo by Desarae Poier.

T086A1 Nahanni surfacing with her calf, T086A1B Denali. Photo by Desarae Poier.

Steller Sea Lions hauled out together. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A very itchy Sea Lion. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A bald eagle spending time on the Sandstone. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Keeping a watchful eye on things. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A Harbour Seal watching us float by. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A bunch of Harbour Seals spending time on the rocks. Photo by Desarae Poier.

Just look at all the colour variation amongst the Harbour Seals. Photo by Desarae Poier.

A Bald Eagle soaring by. Photo by Aly Kohlman.