An article in the Oct 16 issue of Science links the recent decline in the sea otter population to a change in the dietary habits of killer whales. The idea is that a scarcity of sea lions and seals, in turn due to overfishing by humans, may have forced the hungry cetaceans to start preying on otters. On a related note, see the 12/98-1/99 issue of Natural History magazine for a description of an attack on a group of sperm whales by a pod of orcas. It gives a vivid impression of what those rows of big, sharp teeth are used for. There is a suggestion here that there are two types of orcas: the inshore group, which tends to be fish-eaters, and the offshore population, more likely to be flesh-eaters. But sea otters tend to be coastal critters, don't they? I wonder if the writing is on the wall for kayakers in waters where the blackfish swim... AMG Arthur M. Greene amg52_at_columbia.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 02:31 PM 12/2/98 -0500, Arthur wrote: There is a suggestion here that there are two types of orcas: the >inshore group, which tends to be fish-eaters, and the offshore population, >more likely to be flesh-eaters. ... I wonder if the writing is on the wall for kayakers in waters >where the blackfish swim... > Kinda reminds me of a quote from a west coast sea kayaking guide that was reassuring until I really thought about it: "There are no reported instances of Orcas attacking sea kayakers." Well, they wouldn't be reported, would they? Cheers Philip T. **************************************** Mountain Equipment Co-op 1655 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 1K1 Tel: 640-732-1989 Fax: 604-731-6483 email: pid_at_mec.ca Visit our website at: http://www.mec.ca ***************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> There is a suggestion here that there are two types of orcas: the >inshore group, which tends to be fish-eaters, and the offshore population, >more likely to be flesh-eaters. But sea otters tend to be coastal critters, >don't they? I wonder if the writing is on the wall for kayakers in waters >where the blackfish swim... > >AMG >Arthur M. Greene >amg52_at_columbia.edu Yes, here on the wes coast of Canada there are two types of orca, actually three, one of which is so mysterious I forget the name -would have to look in my notes. Can, when I find them! Very elusive group, mostly offshore. If this is incorrect information, I am sure someone will get me up to speed: Transients have a different range from the residents. There are two resident groups, the northern resident group which ranges north of Campbell River if I remember right, and a southern group, which ranges, uh, south of CR. They have a separate language from the transients, who pretty much range wherever they please and who do go offshore for extended periods. When transients come through, the resident pods go silent. The residents are normally quite chatty. Transients are more succinct. The two groups, residents and transients, do not mix socially. Transients eat mammals - seals especially - pupping eason is a good time to find transients - and residents eat fish. What an interesting group of fellow travellers they are. I saw that footage on the Discovery Channel some time ago too - it was wild to see the big orca surf up on the beach and go after the seal. I think that was in Chile. Too bad Fred didn't have a video thingy with him. I guess if it happened in Chile it could happen here. Watch out for those dorsal fins approaching the beach and sit way back from sudden drop offs! I'm surprised the whales just look at us. I'm always grateful that so far this is all they've done. Diane *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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