Otter Point, Sooke, BC (2025-02-04):

A huge thank you to Glen Murphy who reported a sighting of four killer whales this evening just off Fishboat Bay beach about 500 m heading east towards Gordons beach at 3:10pm.

We encountered the group of 4 whales between Gordon's Beach and Otter Point at 16:39. When we observed them, they were difficult to follow and were conducting long dives. A large group of Steller sea lions were hugging the coast when they passed Otter Point.

Getting photographs were difficult, but we were able to identify the whales as members of the T090 matrilineal group by observing the group with binoculars. This transient (mammal-eating) family is composed of the matriarch T090 (born. 1980), her adult son T090B (born. 2006), daughter T090C (born. 2010), and fourth offspring T090D (born. 2017).

We tried to follow them as they travelled east, but fading light and limited observation point ended the encounter.

A huge thank you to everyone in the Whale Spotters of Otter Point & Sooke for helping with this sighting.

Photographs by Chelsea Mathieson