The Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) are a group of Orcas who live in the Pacific Northwest during summer months they can most commonly be seen in the Salish Sea and down towards the Pudget Sound. During Fall and Winter months the whales follow Salmon runs are venture as far south as San Francisco and as far north as Southeast Alaska. Currently there are 75 Southern Resident Whales who make up their three distinct pods J, K, and L.
The Southern Resident’s look identical to both Northern Resident and Bigg’s Orca Whales but are distinctly different with no known interbreeding taking place between the the three types. Southern and Northern Resident Orcas share the most similarities due to their diets of Salmon and their Pod like social structures. Bigg’s Orcas are mammal eaters and travel with maternal lines or established friendships.
The Southern Resident Orcas are endangered species covered under the Endangered Species Act.
ID Guide: https://whalemuseum.org/collections/meet-the-whales
Additional Photo ID Guide for members: https://www.whaleresearch.com/cwrmember
