Killer Whales Return to Oregon Coast with More Than 10 Off Depoe Bay - Video

Published 03/25/25 at 12:06 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Depoe Bay, Oregon) – They're back. Orcas have returned to the Oregon coast and basically right on schedule. (Photo / video Kyler Werkheiser / Dockside Charters)

Spring whale watch season is often when they come sauntering into these waters – often, but not always – following either the seal birthing season or even baby gray whales.

A spectacular sighting of them happened Monday near Cape Foulweather, with some aboard Dockside Charters catching incredible photos of them and video in some cases. There were about 10 to 20 killer whales, maneuvering some three miles off the Depoe Bay area.

The first sighting actually came way back on March 11, as those in the Port Orford area reported seeing a few near The Gate – a series of rock structures just off the town. However, nothing else is known about those, or if it's the same group seen two weeks later.

The Oregon Coast Killer Whale Monitoring Program (OCKWMP) reported Monday's sighting, and Julie Conrad from the central coast and Josh McInnes from British Columbia were able to ID the pod. They are part of the L4 matrilineal group, a family within Lpod.

“This group of whales belong to the critically endangered southern resident killer whale stock that frequents the coastal waters of the California Current,” said McInnes of the OCKWMP. “Their primary range is from southern British Columbia to central California.”

These majestic beasties are not here for the baby whales or even the baby harbor seals. McInnes said this particular tribe of orcas don't chomp on those but rather they are fish eaters.

Photo / video Kyler Werkheiser / Dockside Charters

McInness and his group were able to ID the pod: “Female L055 (born. 1977), female L082 (born. 1990), female L086 (born. 1991), female L103 (born. 2003), male L106 (born. 2005), male L109 (born. 2007), male L116 (born. 2010), and female L118 (born. 2011).”

McInness is a Canadian researcher working with the Marine Mammal Research Unit of the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and University of British Columbia, as well as running the FB groups for California, Oregon and Washington killer whales.

He told Oregon Coast Beach Connection right now is a good time to start catching sight of orcas along these coastlines – although it's never guaranteed.

“Killer whales occur throughout the year off the Oregon coast, but there is a peak in sightings for transient (mammal-eating) killer whales during the months of April-June,” he said. “This is likely a result of better weather, resulting in more eyes on the waters, but also is likely related to the harbor seal pupping season, with an influx of new and vulnerable pups.”

You can see more of the stunning orca encounter here.

Apparently, these guys are not necessarily part of the spring group of orcas, but likely lingerers.

“In the winter, southern resident killer whales frequent the outer coast of Washington and Oregon searching for salmon,” McInness said. “I think there is always a chance of seeing killer whales during Whale Week off Oregon. More eyes focused on searching for whales increases the odds!”

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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