North Carolina
Surprise! Killer whale spotted off the North Carolina coast
A rare sighting for researchers off the North Carolina coast.
On March 13, an aerial survey team from the Florida-based Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute spotted an orca, also known as the killer whale, near Kitty Hawk, located in the Outer Banks of NC.
This is the first time the team has spotted a killer whale since they started surveying the area five years ago.
Killer whales can be found in all oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, although most are located in Antarctica, Norway, and Alaska due to the colder waters.
According to the North Carolina State Parks website, killer whales are rarely seen in North Carolina waters.
In 2011, a pod of killer whales was spotted off Oregon Inlet in Dare County.