Kayak with Orcas in British Columbia's Johnstone Straight with Orca Kayak Trips

Kayaking With Orcas and Killer Whales - How to Identify Them

Kayaking with orcas can have a degree of familiarity. It is actually possible to put names to faces because most of the Orcas (killer whales) of our northern resident Orca population in Johnstone Strait have been identified. Photo identification is available today as well most of the Orcas estimated year of birth and sex.

Individual Orcas are part of a matrilineal group, subpod, pod, clan and community.
Killer whales are given letters as names, meaning each Orca within a pod receives the same letter plus an individual number. As an example the first Orca ever recognized was called A1, and her pod was called the A1 pod.

Orcas are identified by their different appearances of their dorsal fins and saddle patches and scars, see photo of the female Orca and one of our guests in the kayak below. Also, females and youngster have different much smaller dorsal fins than large male Orcas.

On our orca kayaking trips you will have the opportunity to identify certain Orcas. Some killer whales are easier to identify than others, proper identication can often only be done after photos are developed. Depending on weather and ocean conditions we often have the opportunity to visit one of the Orca research stations and share or receive interesting info with the research team.