Salish Sea Orca Highlights (Dec 2025 – Jan 2026)

The Dorsal Report
by OrcaVision  •  Southern Resident & Bigg’s Orca Sighting Recap
Weekly Edition Dec 29, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 The Dorsal Report • OrcaVision
The Dorsal Report: Salish Sea Sighting Highlights Dec 29 - Jan 4, 2026

K Pod Returns, T124Ds Hunt South Sound

Southern Residents

K Pod, J Pod

K Pod traveled southbound through Haro Strait on January 3rd, spreading widely off Salmon Bank before heading southeast past Cattle Point. J Pod made a brief appearance near the BC/Washington border on December 29th. K Pod has been increasingly active in recent Decembers and Januarys, with December 2025 seeing particularly strong K Pod numbers.

Bigg’s Orcas

T124Ds, T19s, T73As, T75Cs, T166A1

The T124Ds dominated the week with a three-day hunting marathon through South Puget Sound, working from the Narrows to Vashon Island with multiple confirmed kills. The T19s circled San Juan Island on January 3rd. Up north, the T73As, T75Cs, and rarely-seen T166A1 grouped up in Haro Strait on New Year’s Day.

T166A1 has only been documented in the Salish Sea once before, about four years ago. The T124 family is the signature January Bigg’s group.

Source: Orca Network Whale Sighting Report The Dorsal Report by OrcaVision