About Ucluelet Whales & Wildlife | Archipelago Wildlife Cruises

Few areas in the world rival the rich mix of wildlife we encounter in Barkley Sound which lies on Ucluelet’s door step. Within a few hours we can see two species of whale, killer whales, harbor porpoises, two species of sea lion, harbor seals, sea otters, black bears, bald eagles, and a variety of sea birds. Although we don’t see every species every day, we see most species each and every day. The exception is the unpredictable killer whales that appear at random.

Animal sightings vary depending on season and year. We record the wildlife we see each day, so feel free to inquire about current sightings.

Whales
Sea Otters
Sea Lions & Seals
Black Bears
Eagles
Sea birds

Humpback Whales
(Megaptera novaeangliae)

In the spring humpback whales appear along our shore. The best season for viewing is July through September. During these months they frequent Barkley Sound, and a whale in sheltered water is always better than an offshore whale. Aside from our comfort and control, the whales are easier to find.

Humpbacks are a favorite as they’re highly acrobatic and more often than not we see a performance from their bag of tricks.

Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus)

Each year 35 to 50 gray whales cut short their northward migration to become seasonal residents of Vancouver Island. For the last two years few have stayed to feed so we’ve seen them occasionally instead of daily. What the coming season will bring can be nothing more than a guess.

Orcas or Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)

Don’t “expect” to see these mammal hunters although you can “hope” to see them. The transient killer whales that frequent our waters are constantly on the move. Their favorite meal is a sea lion or a nice plump seal. Their movements are unpredictable and random. At times we go weeks without seeing them but it is a bonus when we do.

Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

Although plentiful, they’re not easy to see. Unlike many porpoises and dolphins, the harbor porpoise doesn’t believe in midair summersaults. Little backs with fins popping up through the water - this is harbor porpoise watching.

Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris)

Once hunted to extinction on the BC coast, sea otters were reintroduced in l969. Although not numerous in this area they are making a comeback. In the spring of 2011 a pack of about 60 settled in a sheltered bay off Ucluelet. The odd sea otter can be spotted on our tour but not daily. Barkley Sound is ideal terrain for them so expect more frequent sea otter sightings in the near future.

Sea Otter eatting, of course!

Stellar Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus)

Thousand kilogram males strut and growl, standing off interlopers, all the while dominating their huge family. Although they change rookeries during the year this dramatic scene is always within our orbit.

California Sea Lions
(Zalophus californianus)

Only males reside in Canada and come June it’s off to California for sun, surf, sand and sex. Little wonder they lose interest in tourist watching. Reappearing in August, their noisy presence is welcome. We miss them when they’re gone.

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

They are very different in character from sea lions. There are several rookeries along our route. In the spring we see the mothers with newborn pups and over the summer watch the little ones grow to young adulthood.

Black Bears
(Ursus americanus vancouveri)

Fortunately bears seem to love the area as much as we do. In the spring they begin frequenting the beaches and we see them about 40% of the time. June through October we see them about 1/2 of the time. Turning over rocks on the beach and feeding on crabs that hide underneath, they are easy to watch. Sows with cubs are common.

Bear up close - who is watching who?

Peter Larkin photo of eagle

Bald Eagles
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

From spring until August the area is packed with Eagles. Their sheer numbers ensure some close up viewing. Barkley Sound has the highest density of resident eagles anywhere in North America. There are several active nests along our route. In August most eagles leave for salmon streams. Enough “Residents” remain behind that we see them daily.

Sea Birds and Shore Birds

We always encounter a variety of sea birds, many of which can’t be seen from shore.

The birds change with the year and the season but here is a list of regular sightings (depending on time of year):

Great Blue Herons,
Gulls (Glaucous Winged, California, Mew, Heermann’s),
Cormorants (Brandt, Double Crested, Pelagic),
Black Oystercatchers,
Common Murres,
Pigeon Guillemots,
Rhinocerous Auklets,
Marbled Murrelets,
Scoters (Surf, White Winged),
Harlequin Ducks,
Turnstones,
Grebes (Western, Rednecked, Horned)
Mergansers (Common, Hooded, Rednecked),
Loons (Common, Pelagic)
On occasion we see Pelicans and Puffins.



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	WILDLIFE Few areas in the world rival the rich mix of wildlife we encounter in Barkley Sound which lies on Ucluelet’s door step. Within a few hours we can see two species of whale, killer whales, harbor porpoises, two species of sea lion, harbor seals, sea otters, black bears, bald eagles, and a variety of sea birds. Although we don’t see every species every day, we see most species each and every day. The exception is the unpredictable killer whales that appear at random. Animal sightings vary depending on season and year. We record the wildlife we see each day, so feel free to inquire about current sightings. Click tabs below to learn about wildife you may see! Whales Sea Otters Sea Lions & Seals Black Bears Eagles Sea birds Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) In the spring humpback whales appear along our shore. The best season for viewing is July through September. During these months they frequent Barkley Sound, and a whale in sheltered water is always better than an offshore whale. Aside from our comfort and control, the whales are easier to find. Humpbacks are a favorite as they’re highly acrobatic and more often than not we see a performance from their bag of tricks. Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) Each year 35 to 50 gray whales cut short their northward migration to become seasonal residents of Vancouver Island. For the last two years few have stayed to feed so we’ve seen them occasionally instead of daily. What the coming season will bring can be nothing more than a guess. Orcas or Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) Don’t “expect” to see these mammal hunters although you can “hope” to see them. The transient killer whales that frequent our waters are constantly on the move. Their favorite meal is a sea lion or a nice plump seal. Their movements are unpredictable and random. At times we go weeks without seeing them but it is a bonus when we do. Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) Although plentiful, they’re not easy to see. Unlike many porpoises and dolphins, the harbor porpoise doesn’t believe in midair summersaults. Little backs with fins popping up through the water - this is harbor porpoise watching. Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) Once hunted to extinction on the BC coast, sea otters were reintroduced in l969. Although not numerous in this area they are making a comeback. In the spring of 2011 a pack of about 60 settled in a sheltered bay off Ucluelet. The odd sea otter can be spotted on our tour but not daily. Barkley Sound is ideal terrain for them so expect more frequent sea otter sightings in the near future. Stellar Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) Thousand kilogram males strut and growl, standing off interlopers, all the while dominating their huge family. Although they change rookeries during the year this dramatic scene is always within our orbit. California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) Only males reside in Canada and come June it’s off to California for sun, surf, sand and sex. Little wonder they lose interest in tourist watching. Reappearing in August, their noisy presence is welcome. We miss them when they’re gone. Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) They are very different in character from sea lions. There are several rookeries along our route. In the spring we see the mothers with newborn pups and over the summer watch the little ones grow to young adulthood. Black Bears (Ursus americanus vancouveri) Fortunately bears seem to love the area as much as we do. In the spring they begin frequenting the beaches and we see them about 40% of the time. June through October we see them about 1/2 of the time. Turning over rocks on the beach and feeding on crabs that hide underneath, they are easy to watch. Sows with cubs are common. Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) From spring until August the area is packed with Eagles. Their sheer numbers ensure some close up viewing. Barkley Sound has the highest density of resident eagles anywhere in North America. There are several active nests along our route. In August most eagles leave for salmon streams. Enough “Residents” remain behind that we see them daily. Sea Birds and Shore Birds We always encounter a variety of sea birds, many of which can’t be seen from shore. The birds change with the year and the season but here is a list of regular sightings (depending on time of year): Great Blue Herons, Gulls (Glaucous Winged, California, Mew, Heermann’s), Cormorants (Brandt, Double Crested, Pelagic), Black Oystercatchers, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinocerous Auklets, Marbled Murrelets, Scoters (Surf, White Winged), Harlequin Ducks, Turnstones, Grebes (Western, Rednecked, Horned) Mergansers (Common, Hooded, Rednecked), Loons (Common, Pelagic) On occasion we see Pelicans and Puffins.

WILDLIFE

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)