Where To See Orcas In The Us?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In North America, your best bet is to head to

the islands at the northern tip of Washington state near Bellingham and Anacortes, Washington

. These small islands, including San Juan Island and Orcas Island, are the orcas’ home base in the States.

Where can you see orcas in the United States?

Southeastern Alaska

In the southeastern part of Alaska, the best place to see orcas is in

Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula

. Whale-watching tours leave from Seward usually from May 5 to June 5, the sweet spot for seeing them. They’re usually feeding on a king salmon run at that time of year.

Are there orcas in the US?


San Juan Island, USA

The salmon-rich waters of the San Juan archipelago, off the coast of Washington state, provide a feast for the islands’ three resident orca pods as they track fish close to the shores during the summer months.

Are there killer whales in New York?


Dolphin species including Risso’s, bottlenose and killer whales are also in the area

, as well as gray and harbor seals. For birders, scoters, grebes, puffins, scaups and harlequin ducks are among the many birds visible along this rugged coastline.

Can you see orcas in Florida?

Florida Water Tours organize 2-hour sea excursions in Matanzas Bay all year round.

There have been numerous whale sightings near Matanzas Inlet

.

Can you see orcas in California?

On the West Coast, however, there are a few locations in particular we recommend for the best chance to spot orca whales. These locations include

Long Beach, Monterey Bay, and San Diego

.

Can you see orcas in Seattle?


You can see orcas in Seattle, Washington and the surrounding areas year round

. But summer between May and September are the best times to kayak with orcas. That’s because their food source, salmon, is most active around this time.

When can you see orcas in San Juan Islands?

Orca whales range through the San Juan Islands the most

between March and October

and you can expect to see them on the vast majority of our tours during that time, although we do have sightings throughout the year. We also regularly encounter beautiful Humpback Whales (through November) and Minke whales in the area.

Are orcas in the Atlantic?


Killer whales are found worldwide and are widespread throughout the North Atlantic

. They are, however, thought to be likely more abundant in the Northeast Atlantic than the Northwest Atlantic.

Can you see orcas in Maine?

Sei whales, sperm whales, orcas and right whales are

a few of the state’s occasional visitors

. While there are a number of good vantage points on shore where spectators armed with a good set of binoculars can sight whales, Maine whale watching cruises will put you right where the action is.

Can you see orcas in Alaska?


Killer whales can be seen in southeast Alaska between early May and early June with whales more sporadically spotted in June through September

. They can be seen in the waters of Resurrection Bay, near Seward, as well as throughout Southeast Alaska, with the largest abundance found near Juneau and Ketchikan.

Are there killer whales on the east coast of the United States?

And there’s less than 100 orcas in that catalog. Orcas are found in oceans around the world, but typically stick to colder waters like the Southern (Antarctic), Pacific and northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean.

They rarely venture as far south as New England waters

.

Where can you see orcas in NYC?

Best places for whale watching

More whale-watching tours in New York City depart from

Riis Landing, Rockaway, in Queens and Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn

. You can even spot whales from the shore in Coney Island, Jones Beach Island, Fire Island, and the Hamptons on Long Island.

Are there whales in the New York Harbor?

Where do whales live in the US?

There are several areas within the United States where humpback whales are the central attraction for the whale watching industry, including

the Gulf of Maine (particularly within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary), California, Alaska (particularly southeast Alaska), and the Hawaiian Islands

.

Can you see whales in Miami?

Florida offers a host of world-famous sites to explore, from pristine beaches, to the late-night party scene in Miami’s South Beach, to the sprawling wetlands of the Everglades. But

some of the state’s most majestic images actually lie beneath the surface – whales.

Are there whales in Miami Beach?

Are there orcas in Key West?

They can weigh 1,500 pounds. Only two other strandings of false killer whales have been recorded in Florida. The first was in 1986 when

28 false killer whales beached near Key West

. Three years later, 40 false killer whales beached off Cedar Key.

Can you see orcas in San Diego?

Orcas (killer whales)

can be seen off the coast of San Diego year-round

. However, they are rare, and sightings are only reported a couple of times each year on whale watching trips.

Are there orcas in Los Angeles?

Orca (Killer) Whale – Whale watching near Los Angeles,

Orcas are encountered on occasion in the waters off greater Los Angeles

but when they are encountered they have an outstanding reputation with the public and are quickly identified.

Are there killer whales in San Diego?

However,

San Diego is one of the few cities along the coast that does have a more dense population of killer whales

compared to other parts of the world. There is a higher chance at spotting orca whales in San Diego during feeding times when their prey has a large population as well.

Are there orcas in Puget Sound?


The orcas that are seen in our local waters are part of the southern resident community

, composed of J, K and L pods. The most recent count finds fewer than 80 orcas in the southern resident community.

Where are the Puget Sound orcas?

They range from

Southeast Alaska to California

, but over the last 15 years more members of the population are spending increasing time in the inland waters of Washington State and British Columbia (Houghton et al.

Can you see orcas in Oregon?


To catch sight of Oregon’s visiting killer whales is just like spotting any whale – you need patience and a high vantage point

. The Newport area has many of these, such as the lighthouse at Yaquina Bay, the Yaquina Head area, Don Davis Memorial Park in Nye Beach and nearby at Cape Foulweather.

Can you see orcas from Friday Harbor?

San Juan Safaris: Located just steps from the Friday Harbor ferry landing,

San Juan Safaris offers a 90% chance of spotting Orcas from their 55-foot boat

. With only 40 guests or fewer on board, you’ll have plenty of space to move around and enjoy an amazing, personalized experience.

When can you see orcas in Monterey Bay?

KILLER WHALES

Though we frequently encounter lone adult males who are most likely orphans. BEST time to see killer whales in Monterey Bay:

mid-April through mid-May, and late August through October

. Though killer whale sightings may occur any time of the year.

Are there orcas in Puerto Rico?


Magnificent orca (or killer) whales live in the San Juan Islands year-round

, and this is the best place in the world to see them in the wild. You can also spot humpbacks, minkes, gray whales, Steller sea lions, and many other species of wildlife.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.