Wildlife of the Week!

Wildlife of the Week.

We hope that you have been enjoying our Wildlife of the Week series! We have been truly enjoying sharing some incredible Salish Sea creatures with you. Our fourth Wildlife of the Week spotlight focuses on a fascinating species of Baleen whale. Check out the photo of this whale- does the species look familiar? It is not a Humpback Whale, which is another Baleen whale seen on this coast. Hint: this whale is a slender, fast swimmer with the ability to reach speeds up to 32 km/h. 

…..The Minke Whale is the smallest member of the Rorqual family, yet this species still measures between 26-33 feet long! Scientists think that there might be at least 2 or 3 species of Minke Whale in the world (Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Baleonoptera bonaerensis are recognized scientifically), as well as further subspecies. 

The Minke may be found in all oceans of the world, yet they tend to favour cold, northern waters of the world. 

The Minke Whale, like other Baleen whales, does not have teeth and instead uses baleen plates to filter out their prey from the water. Numbers of baleen plates may vary between Minke Whale species/subspecies. Prey includes crustaceans like krill and fishes (often schooling fishes). 

Baleen is made of keratin and is a hair-like material found on the top jaw of the whale’s mouth. It acts as a filter to sieve out the small creatures when the whale takes in (and then releases) large gulps of seawater. 

In some regions, the Minke Whale is migratory whereas in others the animal remains in a region year-round. 

Minke Whales of the Antarctic species do not have the white band seen on the flippers of other Minke Whales. The Minke’s dorsal (top) surface is typically a brown or black-grey color, with lighter greyish sides and a white belly. Different species/ subspecies have also been observed to show slightly different coloration patterns and body sizes. 

Females are larger than males, and produce calves about every two years; they have a gestation period of about 10-11 months. 

Who would like to test out their Minke Whale knowledge? Try out some trivia below! 

1. In the Salish Sea and some other regions around the world, what is a known predator of the Minke? Hint: It is another type of marine mammal.  (ANS: KILLER WHALE/ ORCA). 

2. True or False? Minke Whales nurse for over 1 year. (ANS: FALSE. They only nurse with their mothers, weaning at about 4-6 months). 

3. True or False? Minke Whales may dive for up to 15 minutes. (ANS: TRUE). 

BONUS CHALLENGE: Minke Whales are often coined the nickname “Stinky Minkes”. Do you know why? 

(ANS: They are extremely difficult to observe/ watch as they are very surface-shy. The whale also has been recorded to have terrible breath due to bacteria living in their respiratory tract). 

Want to know more about the Minke? Check out our References: 

“Minke Whale.” 2019. American Cetacean Society. https://www.acsonline.org/minke-whale. 

“Minke Whale.” NOAA Fisheries. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/minke-whale.

WCA video about Five Star!

Our friends at the World Cetacean Alliance created this wonderful video about Five Star Whale Watching. We are proud to be Victoria’s first WCA Certified Responsible Whale Watching Operator.

 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=186887029423376

OBI Reflections: Sea Change

The end of June used to be the prime time to see the Southern Residents on the west side of San Juan Island. Monika fell in love with Js, Ks, and Ls out at Lime Kiln Point State Park more than 15 years ago, but things have changed very dramatically since then. Check out this video by Orca Behaviour Institute about the changes in visits by the SRKW's in the Salish Sea!

https://youtu.be/PhuRdSy9dVw

Wildlife of The Week & Happy Fathers Day!

It’s week three of Wildlife of the Week, and it’s landed on a special day- Father’s Day! This Father’s Day we have decided to highlight a special marine mammal that we are sure many of you have heard of before... ...the Killer Whale! Killer Whales are also known as orcas, and there are various ecotypes of orcas on this coast. If anyone has ever seen orcas in the wild, you might have noticed that some adults have tall dorsal fins, and some do not. Does anyone know why this is? 

The answer is that adult males have tall and straight dorsal fins whereas females have shorter, curved fins. Take a look at this image of an adult male orca named L41, or “Mega”. This Father’s Day we reflect on this remarkable whale, who was a father to many Southern Resident Killer Whale calves throughout his life. 

Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. They are an agile, social and intelligent marine mammal. Orcas can be spotted in all Earth’s oceans, although they are most frequent in temperate and cool regions. Adult males may measure up to 32 feet long! 

L41 is believed to have fathered 14 calves that survive to this day. L41, his family, his mates and his children would all belong to the fish-eating ecotype of orcas in the Salish Sea that feed primarily on Chinook salmon (the SRKW’s).  

L41 and the SRKW’s  do not appear to have a consistent breeding or birthing season, but breeding can often be observed during socializing and “reunions”. 

Adult male orcas, like L41 was, do not assist in raising their own young but often assist with the care of younger whales, namely their siblings or the offspring of female siblings. 

Orcas are almost always seen in family groups. In orca societies males typically stay with their mothers their entire lives. L41’s mother was L11. He was seen by her side until his disappearance and presumed death in early 2020. 

A reason that we can tell L41 and his family apart (as with many other researched orcas), is mainly due to the individual distinctions between the whales. Dorsal fin shapes and sizes, saddle patches (behind dorsal fin) and eye-patch patterns can help us to identify one orca from another, as well as one family and ecotype from each other. 

Orcas communicate in different dialects between pods and ecotypes; this can also assist in identifying a group. 

Other ecotypes of orcas feed on seals, Sea lions, porpoise, dolphins, baleen whales, herring, penguins, sharks and squid; the orca has no natural predator in the oceans. 

In remembering L41, it is also important to remember how critically these whales depend on the drastically reduced Chinook salmon populations. The SRKW’s are an endangered group of whales in contrast to the Biggs’ orcas of the Salish Sea. The latter population is thriving due to the abundance of seals and Sea lions. Five Star is passionate about advocating and supporting the recovery and protection of all populations of these amazing orcas. 

Wildlife of the Week!

A species of the featured creature is spotted here on a dive. Photo courtesy of: NOAA Office of Exploration and Research. 

Welcome to Week 2 of Wildlife of the Week! We’ve decided to highlight an animal that lives deep under the waves of the Salish Sea. There is a general name for this animal that includes multiple species. Does anyone know this creature from the photo above? Here are a few clues if you need a hint: 

(i) It is not a lobster, contrary to its name.  

(ii) Its claws may be twice as long as its body 

….if you guessed Squat lobster, you would be correct! A common species seen in B.C. is called Munida quadraspina. 

The Squat lobster is a small crustacean that is an important member of marine communities, with many species found in the deep-sea. They can measure from less than 1 cm to a maximum of 9 cm long. 

They are related to other crustaceans like shrimp and hermit crabs. 

Squat lobsters are often spotted dwelling in enclosed spaces. You might spot one between rocks and boulders, as they hide from fish predators. They may also use their claws to guard their space…however they can swim and walk around on surfaces. 

They may also be spotted sitting atop varieties of corals, sponges and other marine structures.  

This tiny creature is commonly known to feed on small plankton, shrimp and organic matter, usually scavenging or sorting through sand. However, some have been seen hunting live fish on reefs! 

These creatures are bright in shades of orange and red. 

Regarding Munida quadraspina, they can be found from Alaska to California between depths of 12-1400m. 

Now, time for trivia! See if you can answer all the questions below: 

1. True or False? The Squat lobster has a shell. (Ans: FALSE)
2. True or false? Some Squat lobsters have been seen to steal food off of anemones. (Ans: TRUE)
3. What are the claws of a Squat lobster called? (Ans: CHELIPEDS)

BONUS CHALLENGE: 

The squat lobster has what is called a “tail fan”. This is extremely important to the animal for a major reason…do you know what it is?

Answer: It is used as an escape mechanism and allows the creature to swim backwards. 

Would you like to learn more about this interesting underwater crustacean? Check out our References to learn more! 

Baldwin, Aaron. “Infraorder Anomura (Mole crabs, Hermit crabs, King crabs, Porcelain crabs, and Squat lobsters) of British Columbia.” Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [www.efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [13 June, 2020]. 

Cowles, Dave. “Munida quadraspina Benedict 1902. 2005.” Invertebrates of the Salish Sea. Walla Walla University. https://inverts.wallawalla.edu/Arthropoda/Crustacea/Malacostraca/Eumalacostraca/Eucarida/Decapoda/Anomura/Family_Galatheidae/Munida_quadrispina.html

“Squat lobster.” Monterey Bay Aquarium. 2020. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/squat-lobster 

“Are squat lobsters really lobsters?” Ocean Exploration and Research. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/squat-lobsters.html 

Orca Conservancy video about the Orcas of the Salish Sea

Here is a great video by our friends at Orca Conservancy explaining in the shift we have seen in the Salish Sea Orca populations and why. As we have been saying for many years, it is all about Prey and in order to save the SRKW's we need to restore the Chinook Salmon they rely on. https://youtu.be/0ijXy9_08Ow

World Oceans Day!

Happy World Oceans Day! We must do everything we can to protect our oceans. If you would like to learn about measures you can take to help visit our website at https://www.5starwhales.com/research-conservation/ #worldoceansday #welikeourwhaleswild #salishsea #marineconservation

Wildlife Of The Week!

It’s time for Wildlife of the Week! We wanted to begin with a species that is incredibly important and familiar on our coast…

…..the Sea Otter!  

• Sea Otters are carnivorous mammals, spending the majority of their life in the ocean. They are one of the smallest marine mammals and may look similar to a seal, but belong to the weasel family (Mustelidae)! They are usually seen floating on their backs in kelp beds, wrapped in fronds to stay in place. Unlike other marine mammals, they rely on a thick fur coat to keep warm, not blubber! 
• They love to eat Sea urchins, and play a crucial role in regulating urchin populations.  They will also feast on other shelled animals, like crabs. 
• Generally, Sea Otters can be found on the West Coast from Alaska down to California. 
• Did you know? Sea Otters will use rocks to crack and pry open the hard shells of their prey (especially necessary with prickly urchins)!

 

Now, time for trivia! 

1. What is a group of sea otters together in the water called?                     Answer: RAFT.
2. True or False? Sea Otters may have close to 165,000 hairs per square inch.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Answer: TRUE. 
3. What is the scientific name for the Sea Otter?                                                Answer: Enhydra lutris.

 

BONUS CHALLENGE: Why do Sea Otters “scrub” their fur?  

Answer: move air close to base of fur to promote insulation.

 

Is the Sea otter a favourite of yours? Check out our References to learn more! 

http://www.geog.uvic.ca/viwilds/iw-otter.html 

https://defenders.org/wildlife/sea-otter

Orca Action Month

Today is the start of Orca Month!

Visit the #centerforwhaleresearch #orcaconservancy #orcabehaviorinstitute for more information on events in June. In our opinion now is the time for all parties to work together to protect Orcas in the Salish Sea, especially the endangered Southern Resident Orcas. For the second straight year SRKW’s were not seen a single day in May due to a lack of Chinook Salmon in the Salish Sea 🌊 We need to focus all efforts on recovering Wild Chinook Salmon in order to save the SRKW’s. #nofishnoblackfish #welikeourwhaleswild #orcamonth

https://www.whaleresearch.com/

https://www.orcaconservancy.org/

https://orcabehaviorinstitute.org/

World Cetacean Alliance article about TC latest restrictions aimed at conserving the SRKW population.

Check out this article by our friends at the World Cetacean Alliance on the new restrictions aimed at conserving the SRKW population. https://worldcetaceanalliance.org/2020/05/28/canada-lays-down-new-restrictions-to-aid-killer-whale-conservation/?mc_cid=a9caf5aa3d&mc_eid=640aa6a80f 


#worldcetaceanalliance #welikeourwhaleswild #srkw #salishsea #protectwhatyoulove