WUTA ORCAS & WILDLIFE · FIELD GUIDE
Bigg’s Killer Whales of the Salish Sea
A living field guide to the families, individuals and histories behind the mammal-eating killer whales encountered in Puget Sound and across the Salish Sea.
Last fact review: August 26, 2026
Living catalogue · identities and family status can change
Search by T-number, nickname or family name. We’ll take you directly to the matching catalogue results.
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Meet the mammal hunters
Bigg’s killer whales—historically called “transients”—are one of the distinct killer-whale ecotypes of the eastern North Pacific. In the Pacific Northwest they overlap geographically with resident and offshore killer whales, but differ profoundly in diet, genetics, behavior and social organization.
Bigg’s primarily hunt marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and porpoises; NOAA also lists dolphins, other whales and squid among known prey. Their need to approach acoustically sensitive mammal prey helps explain why hunting groups are often relatively small and why they can be quieter and more stealthy than fish-eating residents.
This guide focuses on families and individual Bigg’s killer whales that are encountered in or near the Salish Sea, with special attention to whales documented in Puget Sound. It is not intended to replace the official research catalogues, and it is not a complete inventory of every Bigg’s killer whale in the eastern North Pacific.
945
Bigg’s killer whales known from British Columbia in a 67-year DFO photo-ID archive spanning 1958–2024.
571
Individuals in that BC dataset assessed as alive in 2024.
10,390
Photo-identification encounters in the DFO dataset, spanning California to Alaska.
1,860
Unique Bigg’s sightings confirmed by Orca Behavior Institute in the Salish Sea during 2025.
HOW THE IDs WORK
Reading a Bigg’s designation
Bigg’s killer-whale IDs typically follow the maternal line. A whale such as T002 can have offspring identified as T002A, T002B and T002C. The next generation often switches back to numbers, and the generation after that returns to letters.
T002→T002C→T002C3→T002C3A
Why are there exceptions?
Identification systems grew alongside decades of field research. Some whales were assigned numbers before researchers understood their family relationship, so a few lineages do not follow the expected pattern perfectly.
T2B or T002B?
Both forms are commonly encountered. Formal catalogues often pad the first number to three digits—T002B—while whale watchers may casually say or write T2B.
ACCURACY NOTE
This is a living guide
Births, deaths, dispersals, sex determinations and family relationships can change as researchers collect new photographs and observations. Where public sources conflict, this page uses cautious language rather than forcing a definitive answer.
Examples in this edition include T124A1A/Sabine, whose maternity has been questioned in recent field observations; T086A3A/Tenakee and T046D/Strider, whose recent status was unresolved in the material reviewed; and newly designated 2026 calves such as T046B8, T049A7, T035A5 and T035A1A.
FAMILY CATALOGUE
Find a whale or family
Search by T-number, nickname or family detail. Open any entry for current members, historical members and notable family information.
85 entries
01 T002B — Pedder Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T002B / Pedder — female, born 1979
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T002B2 — calf documented in 2018
Family notes
- Pedder is a daughter of T002, also known as Florencia or Pointednose Cow.
- T002 was captured in Pedder Bay in 1970 with T001, T003, T004 and T005. T001 and T002 later escaped the net pen. T002 subsequently produced T002A, T002B and T002C before disappearing in 2009.
02 T002Cs — Tasu's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T002C / Tasu — female, born 1989
- T002C1 / Rocky — male, born 2002
- T002C3 / Lucy — born 2011
- T002C5 / Guardian — born 2019
- T002C6 / Yukon — born 2025
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T002C2 / Tumbo — male, 2005–2020
- T002C4 / Kanu — 2017–2021
Family notes
- Tasu is another daughter of T002 and part of the historically important T2 lineage.
- Tumbo lived with pronounced scoliosis. Observers documented family members sharing prey with him and accompanying him when he could not travel or hunt normally.
03 T007Bs — Spiller's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T007B / Spiller — female, born 1982
- T007B3 / Knox — male, born 2005
- T007B4 / Moonraker — male, born 2010
- T007B6 / Domino — male, born 2018
- T007B7 / Spectre — male, born 2022
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T007 / Innis — female, 1961–2013
- T009 / Kanduke — male, 1971–1990; died in captivity
- T007A / Arrow — male, 1976–2013
- T007C / Blunden — 1990–2002
- T007B1 — born 1995; later status unresolved in older records
- T007B2 — born 1998; later status unresolved in older records
- T007B5 — 2014–2016
Family notes
- Spiller's mother, T007 / Innis, was captured at Pedder Bay in 1975 with her presumed son T009 / Kanduke and another whale known as Nootka III.
- Innis was released. Kanduke entered captivity, first at Marineland of Canada and later at SeaWorld Orlando, where he died in 1990.
04 T010 — Langara Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T010 / Langara — female, born before 1964
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T010B / Siwash — male, 1983–2017
- T010C / Bones — male, 1999–2024
Family notes
- Langara is one of the oldest identified female Bigg’s killer whales in this Salish Sea-focused guide.
05 T011A — Rainy Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T011A / Rainy — male, born 1978
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T011 / Wakana — mother, 1964–2019
Family notes
- Rainy is often documented traveling with T077A or members of the T100B family.
06 T018 / T019 family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T019 / Nootka / Mooyah — female, born before 1965
- T019B / Galiano — male, born 1995
- T019C / Spouter — male, born 2001
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T018 / Esperanza — female, born before 1955; not seen since 2024 and presumed deceased
- T019A — 1984–1989
Family notes
- The unusual T018/T019 numbering reflects the fact that the mother-daughter relationship was not understood when the whales were first catalogued.
- This family is known for taking large marine-mammal prey and has been documented preying on minke whales.
07 T023 / T023Ds Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T023 / Janice / Warmsprings — female, born 1964
- T023D / Axle / Brightly — female, born 1993
- T023D3 / Robin — male, born 2012
- T023D4 / Sixx / Ross — female, born 2015
- T023D5 / Wildside — female, born 2019
- T023D6 — born 2026
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T024 / Grace / Gooshdeiheen — male, born 1974; later status uncertain in older records
- T023A — born 1980; historical records conflict on exact death year
- T023B — 1985
- T023D1 / Vispera — historical
- T023D2 — historical
Family notes
- T023 is also the mother of T023C; the T023Cs are now treated as their own matriline.
- T025 / Edgecumbe was the mother of T023.
08 T023Cs — Cindy's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T023C / Cindy / Freshwater — female, born 1990
- T023C3 / Durban — female, born 2009
- T023C4 / Bunzie — born 2013
- T023C5 / Grym — female, born 2018
- T023C6 / Cascade — born 2023
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T023C1 / Haat — 2003–2008
- T023C2 / Berth — born 2007; later status unresolved in older records
Family notes
- T023C is a daughter of T023. Her descendants travel as a distinct matriline.
09 T026s — Saoirse's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T026 / Saoirse — female, born before 1966
- T026A / Ursula — female, born 1990
- T026A2 — born 2019
- T026A3 — born 2022
Family notes
- T026 was among the killer whales captured in Budd Inlet in 1976 and was released.
10 T028s — Khaz's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T028 / Khaz — female, born about 1972
- T028C / Lluvia — female, born 2013
- T028D / Gwaii — born 2007
- T028E — born 2013
Family notes
- Khaz is also the mother of T146 / Oamaru, T028A / Slocum and T028B / Lydonia, whose descendants are tracked as separate family lines.
11 T028As — Slocum's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T028A / Slocum — female, born 1994
- T028A1 — male, born 2012
- T028A2 — born 2018
- T028A3 — born 2021
Family notes
- Slocum is a daughter of T028. Her relatively straight dorsal fin contributed to an earlier assumption that she was male.
12 T028Bs — Lydonia's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T028B / Lydonia — female, born 1997
- T028B1 — born 2015
- T028B2 — born 2018
- T028B3 — born 2024
Family notes
- Lydonia is a daughter of T028 / Khaz.
13 T030 family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T030A / Sequoia — male, born 1986
- T030B / Lyra — female, born 1993
- T030B1 / Vega — born 2012
- T030B2 / Capella — born 2017
- T030B3 / Vesper — born 2024
- T030C / Salix — female, born 2005
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T030 / Elwha — female, born about 1967; died 2024
Family notes
- The T030s are frequently documented with the T041s.
- Following Elwha's death, T030A and T030C have continued to be seen traveling together, while T030B and her descendants form another branch of the family.
14 T034s — Grace's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T034 / Grace — female, born before 1969
- T034A / Pachamama — female, born 2007
- T034A2 / Amaru — born 2024
- T034B / Sonder — female, born 2017
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T034A1 — born 2019; last documented in older public records in 2022 and subsequently considered missing/deceased
Family notes
- The T034s frequently associate with the T037s.
- Researchers and observers have discussed T037 as a possible daughter of T034, but that relationship should be treated as presumed rather than certain.
15 T035 / T035As — Rooby Roo and descendants Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T035 / Rooby Roo — female, born 1970
- T035A / Lester — female, born 1998
- T035A1 / Opal — female, born 2010
- T035A1A — calf designated in 2026
- T035A2 / Topaz — born 2013
- T035A3 / Garnet — born 2018
- T035A4 / Agate — female, born 2022
- T035A5 — calf designated in 2026
Family notes
- Bay Cetology designated two calves in this family in 2026: T035A5 and T035A1A.
- T035 is also the mother of T038 / Graeme. The T035As are frequently documented with the T038As.
16 T036 / T036Bs — Flapjack and Tattertip Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T036 / Flapjack — female, born before 1970
- T036B / Tattertip — female, born 1998
- T036B1 / Bhotia — female, born 2009
- T036B1A / Maple — female, born 2025
- T036B2 / Greenfelder — female, born 2013
- T036B4 / Auk — born 2024
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T036B3 / Chip — male, 2018–2023
- T036C — 2004–2009
Family notes
- T036 is also presumed to be the mother of T099 / Bella and T137 / Loon; this relationship is commonly described as presumed rather than genetically confirmed.
17 T036As — Leland's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T036A / Leland — female, born 1990
- T036A1 / Tierna — female, born 2005
- T036A1A / Drift — male, born 2022
- T036A2 / Kailas — female, born 2012
- T036A2A / Rogue — born 2025
- T036A3 / Storm / Mike III — male, born 2015
- T036A5 / Squall — male, born 2021
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T036A4 — calf, 2019
Family notes
- T036A2 and T036A3 are sometimes documented traveling separately from the rest of the family.
- After the death of T036A4 in 2019, family members were observed carrying the calf.
18 T037 / T037Bs — Rocky III and Harald Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T037 / Rocky III / Pizza Fin — female, born 1979
- T037B / Harald — female, born 1998
- T037B1 / Lance — male, born 2012
- T037B3 / Slice — female, born 2022
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T037B2 / Trident — 2017–2021
Family notes
- The T037s frequently associate with the T034s and sometimes with T036-family whales.
- T037 is also the mother of T037A / Volker.
19 T037As — Volker's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T037A / Volker — female, born 1994
- T037A1 / Inyo — female, born 2007; often travels independently
- T037A2 / Inky — male, born 2009
- T037A3 / Spinnaker — male, born 2012
- T037A4 / Crinkle — female, born 2015
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T037A5 / Jib — male, 2019–2024
Family notes
- T037A1 / Inyo has dispersed from the core group and is often documented apart from the rest of the family.
20 T038s — Graeme's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T038 / Graeme — female, born 1980
- T038B / Monsoon / Jane — female, born 2003
- T038B1 / Hydra / Cook — born 2018
- T038B2 / Mist — born 2023
- T038C / Borrowman — male, born 2008
- T038D / Falconer — male, born 2012
- T038E / Hocker — female, born 2017
- T038F / Proctor — born 2024
Family notes
- T038 is a daughter of T035 / Rooby Roo and is also the mother of T038A / Dana.
- T038C and T038E are among family members that are sometimes documented traveling separately.
21 T038As — Dana's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T038A / Dana / Arrow — female, born 2000
- T038A2 / Archer — born 2020
- T038A3 / Quill — born 2024
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T038A1 — 2015–2021
Family notes
- The T038As are frequently documented with the T035As.
22 T041s — Lawrie's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T041 / Lawrie — female, born before 1966
- T041A / Jemison — female, born 1988
- T041A2 / Tree — born 2013
- T041A3 / Mola — born 2018
- T041A4 / Cedar — born 2025
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T041A1 / Palm — 2011–2016
Family notes
- The T041s are regularly documented traveling with the T030 family.
23 T046 family — descendants of Wake Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T122 / Centeki — female, born about 1982
- T046D / Strider — male, born 2000; not documented since September 2025, status unresolved
- T046E / Thor — male, born 2003
- T046F / Loki — male, born 2012
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T046 / Wake — female, about 1966–2023
- T046A — historical individual, born about 1980; identity history is complex in older catalogues
Family notes
- Wake was one of the whales caught during the 1976 Budd Inlet capture, the last major killer-whale capture in Washington waters.
- T123 / Sidney is widely considered a likely daughter of T046 and is tracked as her own matriline.
24 T046Bs — Raksha's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T046B / Raksha — female, born 1988
- T046B1 / Tread — female, born 2003
- T046B1A / Tsakani — female, born 2015
- T046B1C / Tide — male, born 2022
- T046B1D / Tashi — male, born 2025
- T046B2 / Akela — female, born 2008
- T046B2B / Takaya — female, born 2023
- T046B3 / Sedna — female, born 2011
- T046B3A / Munro — born 2025
- T046B4 / Quiver — male, born 2014
- T046B6 / Sol — female, born 2019
- T046B7 / Tala — born 2023
- T046B8 — calf first documented and designated in March 2026
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T046B1B / Tl’uk — male, 2018–2021
- T046B2A — calf, 2021–2022
- T046B5 — calf killed during a documented 2016 infanticide event
Family notes
- Raksha's eighth documented calf, T046B8, was first reported in March 2026 and designated by Bay Cetology.
- T046B1 and her descendants frequently travel separately from the rest of the T046Bs.
25 T046Cs — Carmanah's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T046C / Carmanah — female, born 1994
- T046C1 / Tsunami — male, born 2006
- T046C2 / Sam — female, born 2009
- T046C3 / Razor — born 2013
- T046C4 / Hobi — born 2018
- T046C5 — born 2025
Family notes
- T046C2 / Sam is sometimes documented traveling apart from the rest of the family.
26 T049As — Nan's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T049A / Nan — female, born 1986
- T049A1 / Noah — male, born 2001
- T049A2 / Jude — male, born 2007
- T049A3 / Nat — male, born 2011
- T049A4 / Neptune — male, born 2014
- T049A5 / Nebula — female, born 2017
- T049A6 / Charlie II — male, born 2022
- T049A7 / Nimbus — born March 2026; sex listed as unknown by Orca Behavior Institute
Family notes
- The T049As are frequent Salish Sea visitors but range widely along the coast from Alaska to Oregon.
- T049A6 / Charlie II has a distinctive healed rostrum injury and underbite. Public observations indicate that the injury has not prevented him from surviving and traveling normally.
- T049A7 was first documented in March 2026 and subsequently designated by Bay Cetology.
27 T049Bs — Van's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T049B / Van — female, born 1992
- T049B2 / Skyler — born 2010
- T049B3 / CharChar — born 2013
- T049B4 — born 2019
- T049B5 — born 2023
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T049B1 / Voyageur — male, 2006–2013
Family notes
- Van is part of the extended T049 family.
28 T049C — Neilson Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T049C / Janet / Neilson — male, born 1998
Family notes
- Nielson is generally documented traveling independently.
29 T050s — Boulder and descendants Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T050 / AL8 / Boulder — female, born about 1980
- T050B / Sita — female, born 1999
- T050B1 / Blakeslee — born 2012
- T050B2 — born 2020
- T050B3 — born 2025
- T050D / Lyrical — born 2011
- T050E / Grandmama — born 2013
Family notes
- Members of the T050 family were documented participating in an attack on a gray-whale calf off Oregon in May 2023.
30 T051 — Roswell Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T051 / Roswell / Loner — male, born 1981
Family notes
- Roswell is commonly catalogued as a lone male.
31 T054 — Seaforth Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T054 / Seaforth — male, born 1972
Family notes
- Seaforth is commonly catalogued as a lone male.
32 T055s Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T055 — female, born 1976
- T055A — male, born 1989
- T055B — female, born 1994
- T055B1 — female, born 2021
- T055C — male, born 2004
Family notes
- The T055s are occasional Salish Sea/Puget Sound visitors and are more often associated with northern waters and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
33 T059s Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T059 — female, born 1970
- T059A — female, born 1995
- T059A1 — female, born 2006
- T059A1A — born 2023
- T059A2 — female, born 2009
- T059A3 — born 2013
- T059A4 — born 2017
- T059A5 — born 2020
Family notes
- T059 is also the mother of T060 / Panthera.
34 T060s — Panthera's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T060 / Panthera — female, born about 1980
- T060C / Yelnats — male, born 2001
- T060D / Onca — male, born 2004
- T060E / Lynx — male, born 2008
- T060F / Tigris — female, born 2012
- T060G / Uncia — female, born 2019
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T060A — born before 1996; historical
- T060B — 1998–1999; unusually pale appearance was associated with a possible genetic condition, but certainty is limited
Family notes
- T002B / Pedder is frequently documented with the T060 family.
- T060D and T060E often travel together and are sometimes informally called “the brothers.”
- T060C can be confused at a distance with another large male, T123A / Stanley, making careful photo-identification important.
35 T065 / Whidbey II and T063 / Chainsaw Mother & son
Current / recently active members
- T065 / Whidbey II — female, born before about 1968
- T063 / Chainsaw — male, born 1978; son of T065
Family notes
- T063 / Chainsaw is one of the best-known Bigg’s males because of the deep notches and distinctive profile of his dorsal fin.
- Important identification correction: T065 is Whidbey II and T063 is Chainsaw. Chainsaw is T065's son.
- The pair is frequently documented with the T065Bs.
36 T064 / T064As — Keku and Minke Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T064 / Keku — female, born about 1971
- T064A / Minke — female, born 1993
- T064A3 / Sparrow / Sparrow Rose — born 2014
- T064A4 / Nova — born 2018
- T064A5 — born 2021
Family notes
- This family is part of the wider T064 lineage.
37 T064Bs — Ember's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T064B / Ember / Amabilidad — female, born 2002
- T064B1 / Flame / Peaches — female, born 2013
- T064B1A / Spark — female, born 2024
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T064B2 / Pelosi — born 2019; last documented in 2023 and subsequently presumed deceased
Family notes
- Because living-status information changes, recent catalogue records should be checked before treating a missing whale as definitively deceased.
38 T065As — Artemis's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T065A / Artemis — female, born 1986
- T065A2 / Ooxjaa — male, born 2004
- T065A3 / Amira — male, born 2007; the long-used nickname reflects an earlier assumption that this whale was female
- T065A4 / Ellifrit — female, born 2011
- T065A5 / Elsie / Indy — male, born 2014; often travels independently
- T065A6 / Callisto — female, born 2018
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T065A1 — 2001–2008
Family notes
- The T065As are among the most familiar Bigg’s families in the Salish Sea and regularly associate with other matrilines.
39 T065Bs — Chunk's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T065B / Chunk — female, born 1993
- T065B1 / Birdsall — male, born 2011
- T065B2 / Nettle / Corvis — male, born 2019
- T065B3 / Rook — male, born 2023
Family notes
- The T065Bs are frequently documented with T065 / Whidbey II and T063 / Chainsaw.
40 T068 — Yakataga and T068A Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T068 / Yakataga — female, born before 1970
- T068A / Ken — male, born 1984
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T068D — born 1997; historical
Family notes
- A 2016 event involving T068 and T068A was documented in the scientific literature as killer-whale infanticide involving calf T046B5.
- In June 2026 T068A was observed carrying a very young dead calf in south Puget Sound. The calf’s identity and cause of death were not established, so the observation should not be interpreted as evidence of another infanticide event.
41 T068Bs — Phylly's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T068B / Phylly — female, born 1987
- T068B1 / Obsidian — female, born 2001
- T068B1A / Fern — born 2013
- T068B1D — born 2025
- T068B2 / Quartz — female, born 2004; sometimes travels independently
- T068B3 / Wilder — male, born 2010
- T068B4 / Chiak — born 2014
- T068B5 / Venture — born 2019
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T068B1B — 2016–2017
- T068B1C — born 2019; historical
Family notes
- The T068B family is part of the extended T068 lineage.
42 T068Cs — Bazan's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T068C / Bazan — female, born 1992
- T068C1 / Sila — female, born 2007
- T068C3 / Jacobsen — female, born 2012
- T068C3A — born 2024
- T068C4 / Rich — born 2014
- T068C6 — born 2023
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T068C2 / Casper — 2009–2012; unusually pale appearance was once linked to a possible genetic condition, though later interpretations have included sloughing/dead skin
- T068C5 — born 2020; no longer listed in the active family in recent public records
- T068C1A — calf documented in 2024 only
Family notes
- T068C1 / Sila live-stranded in Klakass Bay, Alaska, in 2013 and returned to deeper water after several hours with intervention and the incoming tide.
- The family spent an extended period in Hood Canal in fall 2021.
- T068C3A was first reported near Ketchikan in October 2024 and has subsequently been documented with members of the family.
43 T069 — Komox's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T069 / Komox — female, born about 1974
- T069C / Kye — male, born 1995
- T069E / Kodiak — male, born 2004
- T069F / Kin — male, born 2010
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T069B — born 1992; historical
Family notes
- T069A and T069D are daughters whose descendants are tracked as separate matrilines.
44 T069As — Kitimat's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T069A / Kitimat — female, born 1989
- T069A2 / Hartley — male, born 2006
- T069A3 / Kʷiisahii — born 2011
- T069A4 / Našuk — born 2016
- T069A6 — born 2023
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T069A1 — historical
- T069A5 / Kismet — born 2018; historical
Family notes
- T069A2 / Hartley live-stranded near Hartley Bay, British Columbia, in July 2015 and returned to the water when the tide rose roughly nine hours later.
45 T069Ds Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T069D — female, born 2001
- T069D1 — male, born 2013
- T069D2 — born 2016
- T069D3 — born 2020
- T069D4 — born 2024
Family notes
- T069D is part of the extended T069 family.
46 T070 Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T070 — male, born about 1970
Family notes
- T070 is commonly catalogued as a lone male.
47 T071s — Bonkers' family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T071 / Bonkers — female, born about 1980
- T071B / Hood — female, born 2000
- T071B1 / Zengo — female, born 2013
- T071B2 / Tasli — born 2018; missing the left pectoral fin, documented by 2023
- T071C / Jared — male, born 2007
- T071D / Heise — male, born 2011
- T071E / Sutton — born 2017
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T071A / Hopkins — female, 1995–2010
- T071A1 — historical
Family notes
- The T071Bs are often documented separately from other members of the T071 family.
48 T072 — Young / Captain Hook Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T072 / Young / Captain Hook — male, born about 1974
Family notes
- T072 is commonly catalogued as a lone male.
49 T073 — Doris and descendants Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T073 / Doris — female, born about 1969
- T074 / Andy Bigg — male, born 1979
- T073D / Steve — male, born 2005
Family notes
- Doris has been proposed as a daughter of T079 / Gypsy II, but that relationship is best treated as presumed.
- T073A and T073C have established separate matrilines, while T073B is generally documented as an independent male.
50 T073As — Greg's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T073A / Greg — female, born 1987
- T073A1 / Paws — male, born 2005
- T073A2 / Trites — born 2010
- T073A3 / Jessica — born 2015
Family notes
- T073A is a daughter of T073 / Doris.
51 T073B — Blue / Kwenis Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T073B / Blue / Kwenis — male, born 1991
Family notes
- T073B is a son of T073 / Doris and is generally documented as an independent male.
52 T073Cs — Vicky's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T073C / Vicky — female, born 1998
- T073C1 / Guba — born 2012
- T073C2 — born 2021
Family notes
- T073C is a daughter of T073 / Doris.
53 T075s — Kidney and descendants Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T075 / Kidney — female, born before 1971
- T075A / Stone — male, born 1991
- T075B / Pebbles — female, born 1994
- T075B2 / Jasper / Fifi — female, born 2015
- T075B3 / Rubble / Kasnikyu — male, born 2017
- T075B4 / Petra — female, born 2021
- T075C / Bam-Bam — female, born 1998
- T075C3 / Flint — born 2021
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T078 — female, 1986–1998
- T078A — calf, 1998
- T075B1 / Scars — 2007–2013
- T075C1 / Carlos — 2017–2021
- T075C2 / Gavin — 2019–2021
- T075B5 — female, born 2025; not documented after fall 2025 and presumed deceased
- T075C4 / Slate — born 2023; not documented after July 2025 and presumed deceased
Family notes
- T075 and adult son T075A often travel apart from the rest of the family.
- T075 is also the mother of T077 / Asja.
- A calf seen with the T075Bs in 2023 survived only a short time; publicly available observations did not conclusively establish whether Pebbles or her young daughter Jasper was the mother.
54 T077s — Asja's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T077 / Asja — female, born about 1981
- T077C / Neftali — male, born 2006
- T077D / Alcyon — female, born 2009
- T077E / Misneach — born 2016
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T077B / The Church — male, 2000–2021
Family notes
- T077 is a daughter of T075 / Kidney.
- The family is often documented associating with the T065As.
55 T077A — Saulitis Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T077A / Saulitis — male, born 1996
Family notes
- Saulitis is frequently documented traveling independently or with other roaming males, including T011A.
56 T085s — Eve's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T085 / Eve — female, born about 1977
- T085B / Alison / Ali — male, born 1995
- T085D / Findlay Farenorth — born 2014
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T085A / Zoe — male, born 1992; historical/not listed with current family in older source material
- T085C / Jasmine — born 2005; historical
Family notes
- The T085 family is among the Bigg’s lineages documented in the wider Pacific Northwest.
57 T086As — Eider's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T086A / Eider — female, born 1988
- T086A1 / Nahanni — female, born 2001
- T086A1B / Denali — male, born 2023
- T086A3 / Tyndall — female, born 2011
- T086A4 / Akia — female, born 2016
- T086A5 / Siku — male, born 2024
Status or relationship not fully resolved
- T086A3A / Tenakee — born 2024; status unresolved as of this review
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T086A2 — 2005–2008
- T086A1A — calf documented in 2019 only
Family notes
- T086A3A / Tenakee was born in 2024 but had not been documented since fall 2025 in the source material reviewed for this guide. Its status is therefore listed as uncertain rather than presumed deceased.
58 T087 — Harbeson Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T087 / Harbeson — male, born about 1962
Family notes
- Harbeson is a well-known older male who often travels with the T090 family.
- In March 2026 he was also repeatedly documented with T124C / Cooper.
59 T090s — Eagle's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T090 / Eagle — female, born 1980
- T090B / Piglet — male, born 2006
- T090C / Tigger — female, born 2010
- T090D / Kanga — female, born 2017
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T090A — historical
Family notes
- T087 / Harbeson frequently travels with the T090s.
- Older catalogues identify T087 and T090 as offspring of T088.
60 T093 — Joanna Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T093 / Joanna — male, born about 1963
Family notes
- T093 is commonly documented as a lone male.
61 T097 — Gull Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T097 / Gull — male, born 1980
Family notes
- Gull is often documented traveling with T093 / Joanna.
62 T099s — Bella's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T099 / Bella — female, born about 1984
- T099B / Holly — female, born 2007
- T099C / Barakat — male, born 2009
- T099D / Puck — male, born 2015
- T099E / Qwiin qwiin oo quii la — female, born 2021
Family notes
- T036 / Flapjack is presumed to be the mother of T099, which would make T099 and T137 presumed sisters.
63 T100s — Hutchins' family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T100 / Hutchins — female, born about 1979
- T100B / Freya — female, born 1997
- T100B1 / Seidr — male, born 2010
- T100B3 / Selkie — female, born 2024
- T100C / Laurel — male, born 2002
- T100E / Tharaya — female, born 2009
- T100F / Estrella — male, born 2014
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T100A — born before 1996; historical
- T100D — 2006–2009
- T100B2 / Potnia — 2016–2017
Family notes
- The T100Bs frequently travel apart from the rest of the family.
- T100 is widely considered a likely daughter of T101 / Reef.
64 T101s — Reef's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T101 / Reef — female, born about 1969
- T101A / Rush — male, born 1993
- T101B / Lagoon — male, born 1997
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T102 / Beardslee — male, 1984–2020
- T101C — male, 1999–2008
Family notes
- Reef is the matriarch of a long-observed family that includes multiple adult sons.
65 T109s — Big Momma's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T109 / Big Momma / Noyes — female, born before 1977
- T109D / Elvin — female, born 2007
- T109D1 / Tazzie — born 2018
- T109D2 — born 2021
- T109E / Yoda — male, born 2013
Family notes
- T109 has produced several daughters whose descendants are now tracked as separate matrilines, including the T109As, T109Bs and T109Cs.
66 T109As — Frio's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T109A / Frio / Runaway — female, born 1990
- T109A2 / Fuser — female, born 2005
- T109A2A / Seekah — male, born 2016
- T109A2B / Macoah — born 2018
- T109A2C — female, born 2021
- T109A2D / Cordova — male, born 2023
- T109A4 / Garrett — male, born 2012
- T109A5 / Argyle — born 2014
- T109A6 / Riley — female, born 2018
- T109A7 / Wieland — male, born 2021
- T109A8 / Weiss — born 2025
Status or relationship not fully resolved
- T109A3A / Kʷiisaḥiʔis / Brave Little Hunter — female, born 2022; survived the 2024 lagoon event and was later re-sighted, but ongoing status and associations should be checked against the newest field records
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T109A1 — historical
- T109A3 / Spong — born 2009; died in 2024 after becoming trapped in a tidal lagoon on Vancouver Island
Family notes
- In spring 2024, T109A3 and her calf became trapped in a tidal lagoon on Vancouver Island. T109A3 died after the lagoon drained at low tide; the calf remained for roughly a month before successfully exiting during a high-tide effort and was later re-sighted.
- T012A is also documented traveling with the T109As.
67 T109Bs — Sem's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T109B / Sem — female, born 1996
- T109B3 — female, born 2013
- T109B4 — born 2015
- T109B5 — born 2018
- T109B6 — born 2024
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T109B1 — historical
- T109B2 — historical
Family notes
- The T109Bs form one branch of the extended T109 family.
68 T109Cs — Boca's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T109C / Boca — female, born 2002
- T109C1 — male, born 2012
- T109C2 — born 2017
- T109C3 — born 2022
Family notes
- The T109Cs form another branch of the extended T109 family.
69 T117s — Hecate's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T117 / Hecate — female, born about 1976
- T120 / Nox — male, born 1986
- T117A / Nighthawk — male, born 1992
- T117B / Nyx — female, born 2005
- T117B1 / Noctis — born 2023
Family notes
- The numbering in this extended family reflects identifications made before all relationships were fully understood.
70 T121As Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T121A — female, born 1998
- T121A2 — born 2018
- T121A3 — born 2024
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T121A1 — born 2015; historical
Family notes
- The T121As are occasional members of the broader West Coast Transient population documented in the region.
71 T123s — Sidney's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T123 / Sidney — female, born 1985
- T123A / Stanley — male, born 2000
- T123C / Lucky — female, born 2012
- T123D / D’Arcy — female, born 2018
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T123B / Thrasher — 2009–2011
Family notes
- T123 is widely considered a likely daughter of T046 / Wake.
- Sidney and Stanley live-stranded on a sandbar near Glenn Island, British Columbia, in 2011 and returned to deeper water. Sidney was pregnant with Lucky at the time.
72 T124As — Kittiwake's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T124A / Kittiwake — female, born 1984
- T124A6 / Kasuun — male, born 2016
- T124A7 / Kite — female, born 2021
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T124A3 / Wasini — female, 2006–2020; found dead near Tenakee Springs, Alaska
- T124A3A — male, 2019–2021
- T124A5 — 2014–2015
- T124B — female, 1988–2008
- T124E / Murk — male, 1999–2021
Family notes
- Kittiwake is a daughter of T124 / Myrtle.
- Her siblings include T124C / Cooper and T124D / Field, while daughters T124A1, T124A2 and T124A4 lead separate branches.
73 T124A1 — Bonaparte's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T124A1 / Bonaparte — female, born 1996
- T124A1A / Sabine — born 2024; catalogue designation exists, but maternity remains unresolved in recent observations
Family notes
- Sabine has often been observed in close association with T124A4 / Sabio, creating uncertainty about whether the calf’s original matriline assignment reflects its biological mother. This guide preserves the catalogue designation but does not state maternity as settled.
74 T124A2s — Elkugu's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T124A2 / Elkugu — female, born 2001
- T124A2A / Agafia — male, born 2013
- T124A2B / Litton — female, born 2016
Family notes
- Elkugu is a daughter of T124A / Kittiwake.
75 T124A4s — Sabio's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T124A4 / Sabio — female, born 2010
- T124A4A / Strix — female, born 2021
Status or relationship not fully resolved
- T124A1A / Sabine — born 2024; frequently associated with Sabio, but maternity is not treated as resolved here
Family notes
- Sabio is a daughter of T124A / Kittiwake.
76 T124C — Cooper Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T124C / Cooper / AL18 — male, born 1992
Family notes
- Cooper often travels independently. In March 2026 he was repeatedly documented with T087 / Harbeson.
77 T124Ds — Field's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T124D / Field — female, born 1996
- T124D1 / Salish II — born 2014
- T124D3 / Lupine — female, born 2021
- T124D4 / Dune — born 2024
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T124D2 / Seretse — 2017–2021
Family notes
- Field is a daughter of T124 / Myrtle and a sibling of T124A / Kittiwake and T124C / Cooper.
78 T125A — Jetsam Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T125A / Jetsam — male, born about 1998
Family notes
- Jetsam is commonly documented with T128 / Flotsam, who is presumed to be his brother.
79 T128 — Flotsam Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T128 / Flotsam — male, born about 1988
Family notes
- Flotsam is commonly documented with T125A / Jetsam; the two are generally described as presumed brothers.
80 T137s — Loon's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T137 / Loon — female, born 1983
- T137A / Jack — male, born 2002
- T137B / Tempest — female, born 2006
- T137D / Wright — female, born 2012
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T137C — born 2010; historical
Family notes
- T137A / Jack survived a severe injury to the caudal-peduncle region in 2019 and was later documented healed and traveling normally.
- T036 / Flapjack is presumed to be T137's mother, which would make T137 and T099 presumed sisters.
- T137D has been documented stalking harbor seals, illustrating the specialized mammal-hunting behavior of Bigg’s killer whales.
81 T146s — Oamaru's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T146 / Oamaru — female, born 1987
- T146A / Oma — female, born 1999
- T146A1 — male, born 2018
- T146A2 — born 2023
- T146B / Chiloe — male, born 2002
- T146C / Svaha — female, born 2004
- T146C1 — born 2019
- T146D / Leah — female, born 2008
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T146E / Basho — 2011–2020
Family notes
- T146 / Oamaru is a daughter of T028 / Khaz.
- T146B and T146C are sometimes documented traveling separately from the rest of the family.
- T146D / Leah stranded on rocks on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, in 2021 and returned to the water after the tide rose roughly six hours later.
82 T167s — Walpole's family Matriline
Current / recently active members
- T167 / Walpole — female, born 1992
- T167A / Doniol — male, born 2010
- T167B / Valcroze — born 2015
- T167C — female, born 2020
- T167D — born 2026
Family notes
- T167 is a daughter of T166 / Hobart.
- This family is more commonly associated with Southeast Alaska and is considered an unusual visitor to the Salish Sea.
83 T170 — Capilano / Shredder Historical lone whale
Historical / missing / presumed deceased
- T170 / Capilano / Shredder — male, 1974–2024
Family notes
- T170 was a distinctive adult male known across the region.
84 T172 — Katmai Lone whale
Current / recently active members
- T172 / Katmai — female, born about 1989
Family notes
- Katmai is commonly documented traveling independently.
85 T419s — unusual 2026 visitors Unusual visitors
Current / recently active members
- T419 — presumed adult female
- T420 — presumed male, estimated born around 2012
- T421 — presumed younger male, estimated born around 2021
Family notes
- This trio appeared in Vancouver Harbour in March 2026 after having been photo-documented near Anchorage, Alaska, roughly a year earlier.
- Orca Behavior Institute reported that their genetic population was still unknown, although their morphology and behavior were consistent with transient-type killer whales.
- During their 2026 visit they associated with several familiar West Coast Transient matrilines. Their appearance makes them an important reminder that not every transient-type killer whale encountered in the Salish Sea belongs to the well-known coastal catalogue.
No catalogue entries match that search.
PRIMARY REFERENCES
Where the facts come from
This WUTA guide is independently written. Family details were cross-checked against public photo-identification and research resources wherever possible. The original user-supplied Puget Sound compilation was treated as a discovery reference, not copied as prose.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada — 2025 Bigg’s photo-identification catalogue
- NOAA Fisheries — Killer whale biology, ecotypes and diet
- Orca Behavior Institute — Bigg’s matrilines
- Orca Behavior Institute — current sightings and calf updates
- Center for Whale Research — photo-identification and killer-whale research
- Our Wild Puget Sound — user-supplied family compilation used as a cross-reference
Informal nicknames are included where they are established in public whale-watching or research communities. Nicknames are not scientific identifiers. Estimated birth years are shown as estimates rather than exact dates.
