Dall’s Porpoise Facts

Dall’s porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) are not shy mammals. In fact, they are often found bow-riding on the wake of moving vessels. They have a widespread distribution in the north Pacific Ocean, traveling between bays, nearshore waters, and the open ocean. Like the harbor porpoise, the Dall’s porpoise can be found in the Salish Sea year-round, but there is evidence that the two species use separate resources and habitats at different times.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Adult males grow to be about 6.6 feet long, while adult females grow to around 6.3 feet long.

• In some places, like the Bering Sea they hunt mainly at night in shallow water, feeding on forage fish and squid.

• The main predator of Dall’s porpoises is Transient killer whales.

• Despite being two separate species that do not form mixed pods, Dall’s porpoise and harbor porpoises will occasionally mate. Hybridization has been recorded as generally occurring between male harbor porpoises and female Dall’s porpoises.

• Dall’s porpoises echolocate and produce narrow-band, high-frequency clicks and pulses to communicate with one another and find food. Narrow-band high-frequency pulses are known as a very specialized form of acoustic communication that killer whales and other toothed-whale predators are unable to detect.