Sea Otter Sea otters are a species with a story of survival. These marine mammals were very nearly wiped out by the fur trade in the 1800’s. The current California population, about 2,000 individuals, descended from a small group of about fifty otters that...
Orca Pod There are two types of orca pods: resident and transient. Resident pods are orcas that stay in a smaller general area, common in the Pacific Northwest, and eat mostly fish. Most orca pods seen in the Northern California coast are transient, meaning...
Humpback Whale Humpback whales, perhaps one of the most enamored species of whales in the world, are spectacular to watch as they often breach, tail slap, or spy hop (head sticking above the water’s surface). Humpback whales have been widely studied by...
Harbor Seal Harbor seals are frequently seen along the Northern California coast, balancing their spotted, sausage shaped bodies as they sun themselves on small rocks. Harbor seals have adapted to living in many different habitats including bays, estuaries, freshwater...
Gray Whale Spring and fall months are a great time to see gray whales along the Northern California coast. Gray whales spend their summers feeding in the arctic. In early fall, by the thousands these giant marine mammals begin their long southward migration to their...
