What do Killer whales like to eat?
Just about any creature living in the ocean could be the prey of a Killer whale, but generally speaking Killer whales in this region are considered either meat-eaters or fish-eaters — which researchers call “Transients” and “Residents.”
 “Transient” Killer whales regularly travel several hundred miles hunting for seals, sealions, and other large mammals. They travel in small packs and,
generally speaking, tend not to stay in one area for any length of time, thus the name “transient.”
“Resident” Orca whales, on the other hand, eat primarily fish, catching salmon, schooled herring or even the occasional rockfish. Resident orca whales travel in larger groups and collectively cooperate to locate and catch schooling fish. Local resident Orca whales spend a high percentage of time in the waters of Washington State following the many regional salmon runs, thus the term “resident.”
Illustration courtesy Kelley Balcomb-Bartok/All Rights Reserved
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