When are the whales near the San Juan Islands?

The Southern Resident Killer Whales are here in the San Juan Islands mid April to about first part of October. They tend to favor the waters right off the west side of San Juan Island. This is due to the runs of salmon that swim there. There is a ledge or overhang on the west side of San Juan Island. Fish naturally swim along these ledges, providing an excellent foraging area for the whales. During the remainder of the year it is uncertain where K and L pods go. Out to open ocean is the general thought. J pod can occasionally be seen off Seattle, Whidbey Island and very occasionally San Juan Island.

We still have large knowledge gaps to contend with in our understanding of the complex lives of the different types of orca that reside in the waters off the San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea.