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Gray Whales on Vancouver Island
Gray Whales on Vancouver Island
Gray Whales on Vancouver Island
Gray Whales on Vancouver Island
Gray Whales on Vancouver Island

Gray Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Here we are discussing the migrating subspecies of Vancouver Island whales. The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding areas every year. It is also known as the grey whale, grey back whale, Pacific grey whale, Korean grey whale, or California grey whale. They are the bottom feeders of Vancouver Island's waters, and their food becomes scarce in warm waters. Therefore, they have to migrate to follow up the best location for their food, and in their way, they spend some time around the Vancouver Island West Coast. The best place for gray whales to feed around the Island is the sheltered bays; thus, they often can be spotted from the shore while they're around. Gray whales were extinct in the early 1900s due to overhunting. However, since 1974, right after the time whale hunting was prohibited, their population began to grow back again, and now based on estimations, their population is over 20,000, of which 200 of them decided to become residents during their migration. One question is raised, and that is why we call them "gray whales"? Well, it is evident that the reason is due to their dark gray color.  The task of mama whales is even greater! They have to milk their offspring about 50 gallons each, so by simple math, you would understand how much food they should consume to be able to milk their babies adequately. Gray whales generally feed on plankton, amphipods, tube worms, and crabs. In the following, we will discuss what you'd better know about the whale watching adventure you have ahead of you and when or where is the best to spot one of these migrating mammals of Vancouver Island. Stay with us!

Gray Whales, Characteristics, Habitat, and Diet

Gray whales have dorsal humps instead of dorsal fins. But what makes them different from their humpback counterparts? Analyzing "grey whales vs. humpback whales" we will find out that their long pectoral flippers are one of the features by which grey whales are distinguished from humpback whales. Plus, gray whales tend to show their tail flukes. The amount of food they must eat every day is considerably large. That is one of the significant reasons grey whales migrate; in search of ample food.
Gray whales consume mostly amphipod crustaceans, and in Barkley Sound and Clayoquot Sound, quantities of 12,000 to 20,000 amphipods per square yard have been reported by NCBI.

Where to Watch Gray Whales on Vancouver Island?

Without a single doubt, The West Coast! But where on the West Coast? Definitely The coastal parts of the Pacific Rim. In other words, Tofino and Ucluelet. Gray whales have their Vancouver Island stop on the west coast. But don’t worry, you would have the chance to spot one of these dark gray migrating giants in the waters of Sooke. Waters of Clayoquot Sound are the hotspot to go whale watching, including gray whale watching. Bear in mind that there’s no whale watching tour specifically designated to spotting gray whales. Based on the time and the location, you decide to go on a tour, and of course, considering the expertise of your tour guide, you may have the opportunity to enjoy these gray ocean beasts breaching and splashing.

Among all the festivals holding annually in Pacific Rim, Gray Whale Arrival is one of the best and must-to-visit ones. This fantastic festival takes place every March, and whale watching tour operators from across the Island set up a special event for the enthusiasts.

6 Top Places to Spot Gray Whales on Vancouver Island

Ucluelet is one of the Pacific Rim stations for grey whales during their gray migration.

Another Pacific Rime station is the waters surrounding Tofino. Grey whales will be breaching there.

Grey Whales may change their direction and pay a visit to the waters of the capital.

Gray whales also have a southern station while spending their whale hobdays around Vancouver Island.

A few miles south of Ucluelet, there might be another station for the gray beasts along this magnificent trail.

Come at the right time and see grey whales breaching off the shores of Ucluelet while hiking the trail.

Best Time for Spotting Gray Whales

Okay, I would have to say once more that there isn’t some tour specifically called grey whale watching. However, you may set the time according to the period that grey whales will be feed in the bottom of the waters of the West Coast of Vancouver Island. The best time to go whale watching with a high chance of spotting gray whales starts from late February and lasts till April. Right when these migrating mammals decide to make a stop, rest for a few months, and feed in the sheltered bays of Clayoquot Sound. If you ask me, I would say the best time to come to Vancouver Island for its unique endless whale watching opportunities is during March, when the Gray Whale Arrival is held. This festival allows you to float in between the gray whales while there is also a chance to spot other whale counterparts such as Orcas (killer whales), Humpback, Minke, and if you’re in luck, maybe the biggest mammal, the blue whales. To put it in a nutshell, although whale watching is a year-round activity on Vancouver Island, if you’re looking for an ideal opportunity to spot every whale subspecies, it is highly dependent on the time you choose to go on a whale watching tour.

Ready for a Gray Breaching?

You can customize your whale watching trip and ask us to include gray whale watching included. Then accordingly, we will tell you when is the ideal time to be floated!

How Much Does a Whale Watching Trip Cost?

Whale watching on Vancouver Island is one of the must-to-do things when you come here. Whales are known as the island’s guards since they live in the waters of each coordination of the island. If no particular subspecies is intended, whale watching is a year-round activity on Vancouver Island. Regardless the type of the whales, our prices for whale watching tours here on the pristine Vancouver Island for adults start from $145 and $85 for children. The good news is that we have an offer for students with valid IDs. They can have a blast watching whales for only $125.

Interesting Facts to Know about Gray Whales

- Whale watching is the best when the whales are mature enough to breach out adequately. Grey whales, after maturity, can be as long as 15 meters and weigh up to 35 tons. - The funny fact about gray whales is that they have baleens instead of teeth. That is why they pick all the bottom mud and take in the nutrition. - Gray whales travel 60 to 80 km underwater every day and keep it close enough to shore that you can spot them from land. That would be the easies whale watching ever! - During your whale watching adventure, you may notice that whales live in small groups. But that’s not stable. They may be a part of a giant pod. Not to mention that, in contrast to orcas, grey whales do not stay with the same pod forever. - Tofino whale watching and Ucluelet whale watching tours are the best choices you would have to spot a gray migrating mammal.
-The amazing fact about grey whales is that they have the longest migration route among all the mammals that migrate. Annually, gray whales passing Vancouver Island undertake about 20,000 km (12,000 miles) in between their terminals (i.e., Mexican shorelines as their winter quarters and Alaska cold waters as their summer quarters).
- Gray whales achieve sexual maturity between the ages of five and eleven, or when they reach a length of 36-39 feet (11–12 meters). Their life span is predicted to be between 50 and 60 years.

Your Guide for Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

We'll be sitting here all day if we start talking about the advantages of hiring a tour guide for your whale-watching excursion. To begin with, whale watching trips are nearly always conducted from the deck of a boat, around 90% of the time. As a result, you'd need someone with a boat to carry you to the middle of the ocean to view the sea giants. Provided that you have a boat, you still need an experienced person to lead your boat and tell you when is the best time for whale watching. It is worthy of telling you that if you are a boat owner, you may not know how far can you advance, and you may disturb the whales.

In addition to all mentioned above, gray whale watching tour guides had guided so many visitors before you and gained ample experience to know where is the best stop to spot at least one gray whale during the whole tour, and when is the best time to go onboard riding the tides of the ocean to see one king breaching out of the sea. Last but not least, if you ask a whale watching tour guide, you can spend the rest of your trip stress-free and at peace.

Go Beyond for Your Whale Watching

Port Alberni Wildlife Watching

Port Alberni Wildlife Watching

Parksville Wildlife Watching

Parksville Wildlife Watching

Sooke Wildlife Watching

Sooke Wildlife Watching

Campbell River Wildlife Watching

Campbell River Wildlife Watching

Port McNeil Wildlife Watching

Port McNeil Wildlife Watching

Port Hardy Wildlife Watching

Port Hardy Wildlife Watching

Telegraph Cove Wildlife Watching

Telegraph Cove Wildlife Watching

Port Renfrew Wildlife Watching

Port Renfrew Wildlife Watching

Sidney Wildlife Watching

Sidney Wildlife Watching

Ucluelet Wildlife Watching

Ucluelet Wildlife Watching

Victoria Wildlife Watching

Victoria Wildlife Watching

Tofino Wildlife Watching

Tofino Wildlife Watching

Gray Whales FAQS

This family of Vancouver Island whales has been through extinction once. Therefore, they have an aggressive attitude towards their hunters. But be at ease; they are friendly towards unarmed humans.

Inject Your Questions and Experiences about Gray Whale Watching Below!

Hally
April 15, 2022, 14:31

Do gray whales migrate during spring?

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Admin Hally
April 17, 2022, 07:20

Hi,
Yes, right after April they get ready to go somewhere else. 

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