Sooke Harbour, Whiffin Spit (2025-02-01)

A huge thank you to everyone that alerted our research team to the sighting of a lone transient killer whale in Sooke Harbour. We rushed down to Whiffin Spit early morning and set up our camera equipment.

We encountered lone adult male T011A at 13:00 near the head of the spit. He was conducting long 6-10 minute dives, while zig zagging near the main channel of Whiffin Spit. He appeared to have captured at least two harbour seals during four hours of observation, and a number of seals were showing alert behaviour in the shallows.

T011A is an adult male estimated to be born in 1978.

We were able to follow him along the shore until he existed the mouth of Sooke Harbour to the Juan de Fuca Strait.

Researchers: Josh McInnes, Chelsea Mathieson, and Michelle Watt