Everything You Need to Know About Orcas in Juneau, Alaska

Contrary to popular belief, orcas actually aren’t whales at all—they’re the largest members of the dolphin family. They range from 25 to 40 feet in length and spend most of their time on the surface of the ocean. You’ll recognize them by their characteristic black back, white patch around the eyes, and triangular dorsal fin. They’re truly beautiful creatures!

Orcas typically travel in pods, which are matrilineal and will consist of a female and her offspring. There are three types of orcas that can be observed in Alaska: transient orcas, resident orcas, and offshore orcas. Let’s take a closer look at each of the three.

Transient orcas live in smaller pods (often three to seven total), and they feed on large marine mammals like sea lions. These mammals can hear whales coming, so transient orcas tend to move quietly and will only make sounds after they’ve made a kill. While beautiful to us on the surface, make no mistake—transient orcas are vicious predators and have earned their “killer whale” nickname.

Resident orcas travel in large pods (anywhere from 10 to 50 total) and feed on fish. Because they don’t run the same risk of spooking their prey, resident orcas are often much more vocal with each other. Lastly, offshore orcas have the least predictable movement patterns as they reside further offshore than the other two types.

Orcas don’t have any known predators in the ocean. The only threat to their survival is, unfortunately, humans. Orcas have been hunted throughout history for their meat and oil and have been taken from the wild to be put on display for public viewing. Here in the United States, it’s illegal to hunt or capture an orca for any reason, although breeding is allowed for those already in captivity.

How to See Orcas in Alaska

Orcas can be found in every ocean across the world, but they typically prefer colder waters. In Alaska, they’re most common in southeastern areas between the months of May and September. Pods typically migrate north, throughout the Bering Strait, in the springtime when some of the ice melts. In the fall, when the ice starts to advance, they move back down south.

Juneau and Ketchikan are particularly great places to go whale watching for orcas. There are plenty of whale watching tours in these areas (and other parts of Alaska) that give passengers the opportunity to view orcas in the wild. Humpback whales are also particularly prevalent throughout Alaska, so most whale watching tours will come across both species in a typical outing.

If you’re hoping to see an orca in the wild on your next Alaska trip, this information will come in handy! Here’s hoping you have a wonderful whale watching expedition—and catch the perfect photo while you’re at it.