Is the Pod of Killer Whales in La Jolla Waters Here to Stay?
There has been a recent surge in reports of orcas in Southern California, including many sightings of killer whales in La Jolla. Here’s what you should know.
Just over the last weekend, a San Diego whale watching boat spotted a pod of eastern tropical Pacific Orcas near the coastline of La Jolla. According to Fox 5 San Diego, it’s only the latest in a recent string of sightings in Southern California.
There have been dozens of recorded sightings of killer whales in La Jolla and elsewhere along the Southern California coast since December 2023. It’s a rare surge, with some marine biologists noting that this species has not been seen off the California coast with this frequency in nearly two years.
Experts also believe that the killer whales may be the culprit behind the mysterious dead whale washing up on a San Diego beach.
Reportedly, the killer whale sightings are the result of a single pod of orcas consisting of eight adults and two juveniles. Although killer whales swimming around the California coast is not unheard of, it is unusual for a pod to be hanging around this long.
At least one expert says that the killer whales may be hanging around La Jolla, San Diego, and other local coastlines because of warming waters due to the El Nino season currently going on.
While the orcas are still around, experts are encouraging people to book whale watching trips in order to see what might be a “once-in-a-lifetime” sighting.
Interested in seeing these majestic creatures up close? Check out our guide to the best boat tours in San Diego.
Media credit: Image licensed from Adobe
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
