Where are killer whales (orcas) most commonly seen?
Along the coast; these are not open ocean cetaceans like whales or dolphins. They congregate where food is most abundant. The Pacific coast is where salmon assemble to swim back up rivers after maturing in the sea. Orcas are very common along the Pacific coast of North America. Orcas get their common name because they are pack hunters which attack larger whales if they can. Therefore they can also be common where whales give birth, because the calves are vulnerable. These nurseries are in warm ocean waters with shallow bays. One whale nursery exists around the Hawaiian islands and another is along the Baha coast of North west Mexico. Orcas will attack adult whales if they find they have an advantage. Larger whales can escape Orca attack by diving. Because of their large body size, whales can dive deeper and stay down longer than Orcas. Large whales migrate and sometimes have to cross narrow bays to save time. The bottom is shallow and orcas will keep the whale from swimming out to sea
