Killer Whales Sighted Off Catalina

Thursday, December 14, 2006
CATALINA, CALIFORNIA - A pod of approximately 12 killer whales was spotted near Catalina Island the week of Dec 3.

According to Two Harbors Harbormaster Doug Oudin, numerous people have reported seeing killer whales hanging around the channel recently.

On Dec. 6, two harbor officials spotted a killer whale while on a mainland run aboard a freight barge. The whale came up inside the mooring field under the officials' barge.

The killer whale sightings come as a surprise in the Catalina area, as the species is most commonly found in areas of coldwater upwelling, such as in the Antarctic and Arctic. The whales can also be spotted along the shores of Washington and Oregon, as well as in Canada and Alaska, but their seasonal movement usually depends on the migration of their prey.

Source: The Log