12/10/2024

Orcas, aka Killer Whales, Are Wearing Dead Salmon Hats

Scientists don't know why

Stop trying to make dead salmon hats happen. It’s probably not a thing.

People have been buzzing for weeks because scientists and a whale watcher this fall on separate occasions spotted two orcas, also known as killer whales, with dead salmon atop their heads while swimming in Puget Sound in Washington state.

That sparked several proclamations that so-called dead salmon hats were back "in vogue," a retro revival of a trend from the 1980s when seemingly fashionista orcas from the same community exhibited the behavior. But scientists do not believe killer whales are sporting dead salmon in the same way people rock a Stetson, baseball cap or a beret. While they do not have enough data to determine the reason orcas are doing it, their prevailing theories are more prosaic than showing off on the runway: saving food for later or to share it with another orca.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.