Tuesday February 24, 2026
Phys —
Fish-eating killer whales in southern Alaska have a diverse, seasonally changing diet featuring salmon and groundfish, according to a published study in the journal Ecosphere. The types of fish consumed also differ greatly across foraging hotspots in the region.
Scientists have been observing killer whales in Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords as part of a long-term monitoring program launched in 1984 by the North Gulf Oceanic Society. Working from May to September, researchers have gathered a total of roughly 400 remnants of prey fish and scat to develop a picture of the whales’ diets.