Our afternoon tour took us south into the beautiful Southern Gulf Islands, where we were greeted by one of the region's most well-known transient orca families—the T109As. If the name sounds familiar, it’s likely because of the famous story of T109A3A, also known as "Brave Little Hunter." This young whale gained worldwide attention when she became trapped in an inlet, mourning the tragic loss of her mother, who had beached and died. Today, however, there was no sign of Brave Little Hunter; instead, we spent time with the rest of her family, led by her resilient grandmother

T109A Frio/Runaway ♀ (1990)
T109A4 Garret ♂ (2021)
T109A5 Argyle ♂ (2014)
T109A6 Riley (2018)
T109A7 (2021)

We found the T109As hunting along the log booms near Chemainus. Watching transient orcas hunt is always an intense experience, as these apex predators rely on marine mammals for food, rather than fish like their resident orca cousins. Today’s hunt was swift and successful—two Harbour Seals fell prey to the experienced hunters of the T109A pod.

The precision and coordination the orcas displayed along the log booms were impressive. Harbour Seals are a favourite target for transient orcas, and it was clear the T109As were in their element. Although these moments are reminders of the harsh realities of the food chain, they also highlight the incredible skill and intelligence of these animals as they navigate and survive in their environment.

After our time with the orcas, we ventured into the Strait of Georgia, where we came across two familiar humpback whales: Europa (BCX0854) and Prowler (BCX1660). These two are well-known to whale watchers in the area, and today they were in a particularly social mood. Travelling closely together, they moved gracefully through the water, occasionally surfacing with loud trumpeting breaths. This kind of close association is always fascinating to observe, as humpbacks are usually more solitary. While we can’t always be sure of the nature of their interactions, seeing humpbacks exhibit these social behaviors is always a special treat.

To conclude our trip, we made a stop at Stinky Rock, a well-known haul-out site for both Steller Sea Lions and Harbour Seals. True to form, the rocky outcrop was crowded with these pinnipeds, lounging on the rocks and soaking up the last bit of afternoon sun. The contrast between these peaceful seals and sea lions and the earlier predatory action of the orcas was stark, but it’s all part of the rich tapestry of life in the Salish Sea.

The Steller Sea Lions, in particular, always make for a memorable stop. Their massive size and noisy, grumbling interactions are a delight to witness, and today was no different. Stinky Rock, as always, lived up to its name, but the sight of these animals in their natural habitat made it well worth it!

As we headed back to Nanaimo, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to witness such incredible wildlife in their natural habitat. Every day on the water offers something different, and today was no exception. Until the next adventure, we’ll be reflecting on the amazing experiences we had today.

Photos from today's trip were captured by our onboard Marine Naturalist Lucy Willis.