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Transient and Resident Killer Whales

Two types--residents and transients--form separate communities with different ways of life.

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  1. Residents remain in a small home range, while transients roam over a large area.
  2. Residents live in pods of 5 to 50, transients in pods of 1 to 7.
  3. Residents each fishes and squid; transients prey on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and other whales.
  4. Residents make sounds often, and have repertoires of 5 to 15 different calls; transients call less often and have 3 or 4 calls.

  5. Transient stay underwater longer, sometimes for more than 10 minutes.
  6. Resident and transient populations have been most extensively studied in Puget Sound. Killer whales elsewhere may live differently.



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