Seal and Killer Whales
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Captains Cat
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Wow, me too! Jim?
Charlie
Charlie
BaseCampAnne
New member
Thanks for posting this, Dr. Bob. What a tale with great photos
:!: :!:
:!: :!:
Hey Dr. Bob,
That story spread fast here. Doesn't surprise me. The resident Killer Whales are fish eaters (salmon), the transients eat other marina mammals (seals and harbor porpoise seem to be favored). Seals are surprisingly fast and can often out-maneuver one whale... but the Killer Whales hunt in packs, like wolves. They got that name "Killer Whale" (they're actually the largest members of the dolphin family) because they do play with their food, like a cat with a mouse. The seal was lucky he wasn't torn to bits and only got tossed around. Most of the seals around here get out of the water fast when the transients are around. Interestingly enough, the seals know the difference in the dialect for the vocalizations of the transients and residents... they aren't near as wary of the residents.
An Orca can reach speeds of 30 mph in short bursts, as when chasing prey. Sorry for the seal, but I think a 4 to 6 ton Orca coming for my boat would get that seal chucked off. :shock:
The Orcas are impressive animals. Very family oriented, and they work together to hunt. They can be playful or determined. I have learned a lot about them this season, and each day I'm out there with them is a treat. We really are able to identify them (by dorsal fin and saddle patch color and shape), and often see the same family members. Some seem to prefer to forage alone, and others in groups, but they are always near their family members.
Orcas have powerful teeth (cone shaped) and strong jaws. If they were ready to finish off that seal, it probably wouldn't have made it to the boat. Amazing how fast seals can swim and how deep they can dive. Like all marine mammals, they eventually have to come up to breathe; the seals best escape is to get OUT of the water. They can propel themselves pretty good, too, when the need arises.
Life amongst the Killer Whales and their prey isn't going to be an episode on the Disney Channel. Amazing that these folks were able to document this particular happening.
There are times when we see some amazing stuff from the boats... with the whales' movements, the federal and state laws and enforcement, other boats, and typical situations on the water of wind and waves, I completely understand our company's rule of no photography while on duty. I describe some of it on our blog, but to see it first hand is a treat each day.
Best wishes,
Jim
That story spread fast here. Doesn't surprise me. The resident Killer Whales are fish eaters (salmon), the transients eat other marina mammals (seals and harbor porpoise seem to be favored). Seals are surprisingly fast and can often out-maneuver one whale... but the Killer Whales hunt in packs, like wolves. They got that name "Killer Whale" (they're actually the largest members of the dolphin family) because they do play with their food, like a cat with a mouse. The seal was lucky he wasn't torn to bits and only got tossed around. Most of the seals around here get out of the water fast when the transients are around. Interestingly enough, the seals know the difference in the dialect for the vocalizations of the transients and residents... they aren't near as wary of the residents.
An Orca can reach speeds of 30 mph in short bursts, as when chasing prey. Sorry for the seal, but I think a 4 to 6 ton Orca coming for my boat would get that seal chucked off. :shock:
The Orcas are impressive animals. Very family oriented, and they work together to hunt. They can be playful or determined. I have learned a lot about them this season, and each day I'm out there with them is a treat. We really are able to identify them (by dorsal fin and saddle patch color and shape), and often see the same family members. Some seem to prefer to forage alone, and others in groups, but they are always near their family members.
Orcas have powerful teeth (cone shaped) and strong jaws. If they were ready to finish off that seal, it probably wouldn't have made it to the boat. Amazing how fast seals can swim and how deep they can dive. Like all marine mammals, they eventually have to come up to breathe; the seals best escape is to get OUT of the water. They can propel themselves pretty good, too, when the need arises.
Life amongst the Killer Whales and their prey isn't going to be an episode on the Disney Channel. Amazing that these folks were able to document this particular happening.
There are times when we see some amazing stuff from the boats... with the whales' movements, the federal and state laws and enforcement, other boats, and typical situations on the water of wind and waves, I completely understand our company's rule of no photography while on duty. I describe some of it on our blog, but to see it first hand is a treat each day.
Best wishes,
Jim
Amazing photos. I hope we get to see the video they apparently took as well.
I have to think that seal was just being toyed with for some reason. From time to time transient Orcas have invaded Hood Canal and just masacred the seals - to the point where some bays turned red with seal blood. Here's a quote from a Seattle Times article in 2005 describing the effect of a visit by a small pod of 6 transient Orcas:
"And they've probably reduced Hood Canal's seal population of about 1,200 by more than half. But the orcas — two females with two calves each — can't seem to tear themselves away from the seal smorgasbord that runs the length of the deep and narrow channel."
See: Orcas in Hood Canal[
I have to think that seal was just being toyed with for some reason. From time to time transient Orcas have invaded Hood Canal and just masacred the seals - to the point where some bays turned red with seal blood. Here's a quote from a Seattle Times article in 2005 describing the effect of a visit by a small pod of 6 transient Orcas:
"And they've probably reduced Hood Canal's seal population of about 1,200 by more than half. But the orcas — two females with two calves each — can't seem to tear themselves away from the seal smorgasbord that runs the length of the deep and narrow channel."
See: Orcas in Hood Canal[
Pacificcoast101
Member
We saw a pod of transients kill a common dolphin last year, then last December the same pod came back for a little mating and curiousity of our C-Dory.
http://youtu.be/83GL5Yle4Xc
http://youtu.be/83GL5Yle4Xc
Phil,
Those are magnificent photos and video! Very impressive.
I have learned a lot more about Orcas from this thread. I never saw any in S. Calif. despite having boated there over 50 years. They have also been spotted up in the Gulf of Mexico. (Rarely).
One question which I didn't ask, but perhaps Jim or Phil could answer is what legally should you do when you accidentally come within the legal distance of a whale, Orca or dolphin. (around here we see dolphin every day, and our experience world wide is that they will play around the bow and wake.) I have seen the "watching boats" feed dolphin, which is illegal, but no one enforces the law.
Our tactic is to shut down the engine and drift until the sea creature goes on about their business of obtaining food, unless we are on passage, and then we just continue on course at hull speed or less.
Those are magnificent photos and video! Very impressive.
I have learned a lot more about Orcas from this thread. I never saw any in S. Calif. despite having boated there over 50 years. They have also been spotted up in the Gulf of Mexico. (Rarely).
One question which I didn't ask, but perhaps Jim or Phil could answer is what legally should you do when you accidentally come within the legal distance of a whale, Orca or dolphin. (around here we see dolphin every day, and our experience world wide is that they will play around the bow and wake.) I have seen the "watching boats" feed dolphin, which is illegal, but no one enforces the law.
Our tactic is to shut down the engine and drift until the sea creature goes on about their business of obtaining food, unless we are on passage, and then we just continue on course at hull speed or less.
IIRC, Nature channel had a documentary on Orca. Seems different pods have different hunting tactics based on where they and their prey reside, what kind of prey is available etc. Very ingenious animals w/ an obvious high intelligence for problem solving.
Here are the rules from NOAA. The document is only 21 pages long and written in gov't legalese. Perhaps Pat can translate it. I tried reading it and I fell asleep after page 1.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/fr/fr76-20870.pdf
Here are the rules from NOAA. The document is only 21 pages long and written in gov't legalese. Perhaps Pat can translate it. I tried reading it and I fell asleep after page 1.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/fr/fr76-20870.pdf
Don't know what happened. I posted but nothing and no "delete" option either. Interesting.
IIRC, Nature channel had a documentary on Orca. Seems different pods have different hunting tactics based on where they and their prey reside, what kind of prey is available etc. Very ingenious animals w/ an obvious high intelligence for problem solving.
Here are the rules from NOAA. The document is only 21 pages long and written in gov't legalese. Perhaps Pat can translate it. I tried reading it and I fell asleep after page 1.
Hmmm..it was the NOAA link. I removed it and voila. :? :? :? OK, so it won't allow me to use the PDF format. Weird. Well here's the main page w/ the rules.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/killerwhale.htm
IIRC, Nature channel had a documentary on Orca. Seems different pods have different hunting tactics based on where they and their prey reside, what kind of prey is available etc. Very ingenious animals w/ an obvious high intelligence for problem solving.
Here are the rules from NOAA. The document is only 21 pages long and written in gov't legalese. Perhaps Pat can translate it. I tried reading it and I fell asleep after page 1.
Hmmm..it was the NOAA link. I removed it and voila. :? :? :? OK, so it won't allow me to use the PDF format. Weird. Well here's the main page w/ the rules.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/killerwhale.htm
thataway":2j2zx0h8 said:
Federal law regarding Orcas is 200 yards laterally, 400 yards if you are in front of them, and "not in their path." You are not to be "in their path,' nor impede their progress. Washington state laws are similar. For other protected marine mammals, it is 100 yards.
And the rub: the Killer Whales have apparently not received this information. They do NOT travel in a straight line - they follow their food. Sometimes they mill around in one area, other times they are making 7 knots or more. You can be 220 yards away one moment, and then have one come up much closer than that. That would be a violation, and you will be cited if it is seen OR reported (and there are a lot of people out there who want to report you). The fines can be as much as $50,000 (civil action).
So, what to do when a whale surfaces closer than 200 yards? The Pacific Whale Watch Association has set guidelines (those same guidelines were used to write the current law): no props turning if closer than 200 yards; engine off if you happen to be within 100 yards ("and take your lumps" - that was a quote). Work away from them perpendicular to their path when you can. No faster than 7 knots within 1/2 mile of the whales. Don't run anywhere in front of their suspected path (drop off, move out, and go behind).
In this area, NOAA and WDFW are the enforcement, and if seen or reported in violation, you will be cited. Your "intent" will not be considered in writing the ticket, but you can try to use that in court. No gray area - if you are too close, you are in violation.
We carry a rangefinder at the helm. You can also use radar to determine range. I see violations every time I'm out there, but not intentionally by the commercial operators. Private boaters run right up on the whales, cut directly in front of them, and follow too closely. SoundWatch and StraightWatch are out there almost everyday, and they take down the numbers if they can get them. Same with the various research boats (a few have special permits that allow them to be closer for the research they do).
This is the only part of the job that I don't enjoy - you can be doing everything right, and still wind up in violation. We are required to write any "close encounters" in our log, and steps taken to move away. We log locations, specific pods and individuals, along with the usual log notations (weather, sea state, etc).
The laws in Canada are what the US laws used to be: 100 yards. Some of the Canadian operators seem to be under the mistaken impression that they can use that distance in US waters. Some of those fast big ribs do blast in and out much faster than 7 knots.
"Continuing on course" if it takes you in the path of, or too close to, the whales would also put you in violation. Yes, even if you didn't know they were there.
My suggestion for private boaters would be to stay even with or outside the commercial boats. The word I got was 94% of the violations reported were recreational boats. Records are kept and "any pattern of violation" will be considered when being cited.
Here is an illustration regarding the laws...
We have come across the whales in our own boat, when no other vessels are around. We enjoy watching, but still keep our distance. Some boaters think the laws only apply to commercial operators - VERY wrong. Even kayakers have to abide by the same laws. These animals are amazing to watch - it never gets old. The behavior and the pods are different every time. The first time you see "Granny" ( a female estimated to be around 100 years old), or "Mike" (a male with a very large dorsal fin), and see their family behavior and the way they work together... well, it is impressive.
When we are home in Texas, the dolphins are a delight because they seem to want to be with the boats. They will swim up to the boat to the point where you are looking eye to eye with them. They are playful and curious. I don't see that same degree of curiosity with the Killer Whales, but they are fascinating to watch.
I did make a report last week to SoundWatch of an open bow runabout, with a kid on the bow with legs draped over, running right up on the whales. When there are other boats on the scene who are obviously keeping a proper distance, I can't imagine the people on that boat didn't think, "Hey, maybe we shouldn't be this close?" Of course, these are probably the same people who think it's OK to put their kid on the back of a bison at Yellowstone National Park! :disgust
Hope that wasn't too wordy.
Best wishes,
Jim
thataway":269sesi1 said:
I am no expert, but think you're generally doing the right thing. You have asked a very good question. There has been much confusion and controversy over what is actually required by law in Puget Sound, for example. Local (county), state, and federal statutes and regulations may all apply. See,Seattle Times article
And there are special rules that apply to a specific population of orcas. Washington law RCW 77.15.740 generally prohibits approaching within 300 feet of, intercepting, remaining in the path of, or feeding a " southern resident orca whale." That statute also requires a boater to "disengage the transmission" when within 300 feet of the whales. Several exceptions are provided, e.g., allowing noncompliance in order to protect the safety of a boat or it's passengers, or in order to comply with existing rules of navigation or safety.
Needless to say, it might not be readily apparent to the casual boater what population or orcas he or she has encountered. I'd say if you're in the Puget Sound area, and have any doubt, treat them all like "southern resident orca whales." OTOH, some of the federal regulations that apparently cover all orca whales appear to be more stringent than the ones designed to protect the subset???
Jim posted while I was typing this. He obviously knows more about this subject than I do!
...and they do so under water.
This is the only issue I have w/ current regs. It's become a hot issue and I know there are certain groups out there who would make boating anywhere in the Puget Sound illegal if they could. One must insert reasonableness into the equation. I do it daily in my job. It is a gray world and the rules are black and white. How one enforces them becomes the issue.
I think it's a good idea to maintain a data base of violators so LE can find a pattern, if one exists, then use a heavy hand. But to cite each & every violation, no matter the intent of the skipper or the actions of the Orca is, IMO, unrealistic and narrow minded. I realize there are is a certain group of people who are just plain stupid, like the guy w/ the open bow. But for every one of those idiots, there are many more responsible boat owners out there who try to follow the rules; but like you said the Orca didn't get the message.
Pacificcoast101
Member
The pod we found on the video actually kept coming to us. We tried to stay a couple hundred feet away, but they insisted in swimming under our boat. My two favorites were the sideways swimmer who waved as he passed and the one breaching near us. It swam straight toward us, dived and we saw it surfacing. I thought it was going to just spy hop, but was even more thrilled when it leaped from the water.
They kept swimming from our boat over to our friend's and back for over an hour.
They kept swimming from our boat over to our friend's and back for over an hour.
Tom on Icarus
New member
Great photos!!
I had a similar experience several years ago while fishing off Campbell River.
I had just lost three fish that I fought to within 50 feet of the boat to the seals. All I got was the head. I was feeling dejected about the fact that fishing was hot but the seals robbed me each time after doing all the work bringing the salmon to the surface, so I just sat in the boat, drifting and wondering what to do next, when I saw a flash of white streak under the boat. Then I saw him......a lone bull rogue orca darting back and forth around the boat.......at high speeds too and going right under the boat. I grabbed a handle and held tight hoping the orca knew not to hit the boat. I was awestruck and fearfull at the same time. Shortly the orca nailed his prey.....a seal and the water turned red and the orca flung bits of seal in the air as he tore it apart........all within thirty feet of my boat. I never saw the seal until he was dinner but I now know he was staying close to my boat looking for any chance to get out of the water.
A once in a lifetime experience. If I had a camera I was too stunned by what was going on around me to use it.
Cheers, :beer
Tom
I had a similar experience several years ago while fishing off Campbell River.
I had just lost three fish that I fought to within 50 feet of the boat to the seals. All I got was the head. I was feeling dejected about the fact that fishing was hot but the seals robbed me each time after doing all the work bringing the salmon to the surface, so I just sat in the boat, drifting and wondering what to do next, when I saw a flash of white streak under the boat. Then I saw him......a lone bull rogue orca darting back and forth around the boat.......at high speeds too and going right under the boat. I grabbed a handle and held tight hoping the orca knew not to hit the boat. I was awestruck and fearfull at the same time. Shortly the orca nailed his prey.....a seal and the water turned red and the orca flung bits of seal in the air as he tore it apart........all within thirty feet of my boat. I never saw the seal until he was dinner but I now know he was staying close to my boat looking for any chance to get out of the water.
A once in a lifetime experience. If I had a camera I was too stunned by what was going on around me to use it.
Cheers, :beer
Tom
Just for clarification, that 300 feet law has been changed to 200 YARDS, so it is double the distance it used to be. 400 yards when ahead of the whales' path.
Yes, there are people out there who think boating in the Salish Sea/Puget Sound is harmful to the environment. There are "sensitive areas" that we'd rather avoid, false complaints registered. I've come to recognize some boats that are only there to try to create problems for the commercial operators. Truth be told, the commercial operators absolutely do not want to stress the whales - this is their livelihood. There is talk about people lobbying to expand the distance twice more... I know there are guests who are disappointed that we cannot get closer, but hopefully the information we are able to give them helps in understanding. Forcing observers further away will mean fewer people who get to see these magnificent animals and learn about their situation.
My feeling is, with the Orcas being endangered (and protected), whale watch operators are helping educate the public about the whales AND provide guidelines that recreational boaters can follow in order to stay compliant. Studies have shown that the boats, when they follow the laws, are not stressing the Killer Whales... a decrease in their food source and the amount of toxins in their bodies are the real issues.
Man almost did in bald eagles a few decades ago with DDT. It didn't kill the birds, but it created a problem with the eggs being too thin for the babies to survive. We took several generations away. These days, our national symbol is doing well. Research is ongoing in regards to what can be done about the toxins in the whales' system. These are passed on from females to their offspring, making for high mortality rates for the first and second born calves. Females generally survive longer than males because they move some of the toxins on during gestation and nursing.
It is only since the 70s that these animals have been seriously studied. We know more about the residents than the transients or off-shore Killer Whales.
Next to man and rats, the Orcas are the most widely placed mammals, yet their numbers are not growing; estimates are between 12,000 and 25,000 Killer Whales in existence world-wide. That's a pretty wide spread.
Education will help. Legislating boats off the water won't. I'm a fan, not a fanatic.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Yes, there are people out there who think boating in the Salish Sea/Puget Sound is harmful to the environment. There are "sensitive areas" that we'd rather avoid, false complaints registered. I've come to recognize some boats that are only there to try to create problems for the commercial operators. Truth be told, the commercial operators absolutely do not want to stress the whales - this is their livelihood. There is talk about people lobbying to expand the distance twice more... I know there are guests who are disappointed that we cannot get closer, but hopefully the information we are able to give them helps in understanding. Forcing observers further away will mean fewer people who get to see these magnificent animals and learn about their situation.
My feeling is, with the Orcas being endangered (and protected), whale watch operators are helping educate the public about the whales AND provide guidelines that recreational boaters can follow in order to stay compliant. Studies have shown that the boats, when they follow the laws, are not stressing the Killer Whales... a decrease in their food source and the amount of toxins in their bodies are the real issues.
Man almost did in bald eagles a few decades ago with DDT. It didn't kill the birds, but it created a problem with the eggs being too thin for the babies to survive. We took several generations away. These days, our national symbol is doing well. Research is ongoing in regards to what can be done about the toxins in the whales' system. These are passed on from females to their offspring, making for high mortality rates for the first and second born calves. Females generally survive longer than males because they move some of the toxins on during gestation and nursing.
It is only since the 70s that these animals have been seriously studied. We know more about the residents than the transients or off-shore Killer Whales.
Next to man and rats, the Orcas are the most widely placed mammals, yet their numbers are not growing; estimates are between 12,000 and 25,000 Killer Whales in existence world-wide. That's a pretty wide spread.
Education will help. Legislating boats off the water won't. I'm a fan, not a fanatic.
Best wishes,
Jim B.