SNACKS & FACTS Three types of killer whales live in the waters off British Columbia, Canada; RESIDENTS, TRANSIENTS, OFFSHORES. These groups do not interact with one another. They are distinguished by: geographic range, diet, communication, social organization, and behaviours. Resident killer whale hunting salmon RESIDENTS Resident whales travel together in pods made up of closely related individuals. Residents eat only fish, especially salmon and squid. Residents echolocate their prey. They make noises that bounce back from nearby objects alerting them to their surroundings. With the help of sound they can build a picture of their surroundings. Resident pods are often very vocal when they hunt for fish. They hunt in large pods and may cooperate in a catching prey. There are two communities of resident whales in the waters off British Columbia, northern and southern groups. During the summer months, from June to September, northern resident whales can be seen feeding on salmon in coastal waters from northern Vancouver Island to Alaska. The southern resident killer whale community inhabits the waters off southern Vancouver Island during the summer. All pictures and audio © Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre 1999 Killer Facts | Distribution | Snacks & Facts | Clans & Pods | Whale Chat | Behaviour | Mug Shots |