Lead
On Nov. 2, 2025, wildlife photographer Charvet Drucker recorded a pod of at least eight orcas pursuing a harbor seal in the Saratoga Passage, between Camano and Whidbey Islands, roughly 40 miles northwest of Seattle. While on a rented 20-foot boat, Drucker watched the seal leap repeatedly as the whales coordinated beneath the surface. The seal survived by hauling onto the boat’s stern swimming platform while the orcas used wave-making tactics for about 15 minutes. After the pod left, the seal later disembarked on its own once the vessel moved closer to shore.
Key Takeaways
- Event date and place: Nov. 2, 2025, Saratoga Passage in the Salish Sea, north of Seattle, Wash.
- Individuals involved: photographer Charvet Drucker on a rented 20-foot boat; a harbor seal; a pod of at least eight killer whales (orcas).
- Behavior observed: orcas executed staggered dives and tail slaps — a documented “wave-washing” tactic — for roughly 15 minutes to try to dislodge the seal.
- Safety actions: the boat engine was shut off to comply with wildlife boating rules; crew did not touch the seal.
- Outcome: the seal clambered onto the stern platform multiple times and ultimately left the boat of its own accord after the whales departed.
- Orca ecotype: the hunters were identified as Bigg’s or “transient” orcas, which prey on marine mammals rather than specializing on salmon.
Background
The Salish Sea is seasonally active with marine predators and prey, and encounters between orcas and seals are well documented in the region. Bigg’s orcas (transients) are known to hunt seals, sea lions and other marine mammals using cooperative strategies that have been observed for decades. Federal and state boating rules require vessel operators to shut off engines and avoid interfering with marine mammals to reduce risk to wildlife and people during such encounters.
Researchers have recorded a range of orca hunting techniques, from stealthy isolations to overt cooperative maneuvers like using waves to wash prey from rocks or platforms. The behaviour captured by Drucker mirrors accounts going back to the 1980s when scientists began systematically describing coordinated wave-making as a hunting method. Local whale-watching and wildlife-safety guidance emphasizes keeping distance, cutting engines when required, and never attempting to rescue or touch wild marine mammals.
Main Event
Drucker was on a rented 20-foot vessel near her home when she and her party spotted the pod of at least eight orcas moving together. Using a telephoto lens, she followed a single harbor seal being driven by the whales. At one point the seal cleared the water and appeared airborne above a thrashing group of orcas, prompting Drucker to fear the worst.
As the whales closed in, the boat’s occupants complied with wildlife rules and cut the engine to avoid injuring the orcas or altering their behavior. The seal then hauled onto the swimming platform at the stern, adjacent to the motor housing, effectively treating the small deck as an improvised refuge.
Video recorded on Drucker’s phone shows the orcas lining up offshore and performing successive dives timed to produce waves that lapped against the boat. The seal slid off at least once and scrambled back up; for about 15 minutes the pod repeated the tactic before swimming away. Once the orcas departed, Drucker restarted the engine and slowly approached shore; the seal jumped off the boat and returned to the water of its own accord near the shoreline, according to her interview with KOMO-TV.
Analysis & Implications
The incident highlights the adaptability and persistence of Bigg’s orcas as coastal predators. Their use of wave-generating maneuvers illustrates cooperative problem-solving that increases hunting success against agile prey such as harbor seals. While this behavior is natural and part of the ecosystem, it creates tense encounters for recreational boaters and poses ethical and safety questions about bystander intervention.
From a wildlife management perspective, the episode underscores why regulations — like shutting off engines and refraining from touching wild animals — exist. Interfering can harm the animal, alter predator behavior, or put people at risk. The seal’s use of a boat as a temporary refuge is a reminder that wildlife may seek human structures in moments of acute danger, but such interactions are unpredictable and should be avoided whenever possible.
Ecologically, transient orcas are not listed like some salmon-eating resident orcas, yet their predation shapes local food webs and can influence seal distributions near haul-outs and human structures. For coastal communities and wildlife tourism operators, the event stresses the need for clear protocols, public education and situational awareness during whale-watching season.
Comparison & Data
| Orca ecotype | Primary prey | Conservation status |
|---|---|---|
| Bigg’s (transient) | Marine mammals (seals, sea lions, porpoises) | Not listed at same status as residents |
| Southern resident | Salmon (primarily Chinook) | Endangered |
The two ecotypes have distinct diets and social behaviors; Bigg’s orcas use stealth and cooperative tactics to hunt mammals, while resident orcas focus on fish and are affected differently by prey availability and contaminants. Comparing these ecotypes clarifies why management and public advice differ depending on which orcas are present during coastal encounters.
Reactions & Quotes
Photographer and witness reaction:
“You poor thing,” Drucker said on her video as the seal regarded her from the stern platform.
Charvet Drucker (photographer, eyewitness)
Scientific/contextual reaction:
NOAA has noted that coordinated wave-creating tactics have been documented by researchers since the 1980s and are one of several learned hunting strategies among orca groups.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (agency)
Local media follow-up:
After the pod left, the boat resumed motoring and brought the seal closer to shore, where it chose to re-enter the water on its own.
KOMO-TV (local broadcaster)
Unconfirmed
- The exact intent of the orcas—whether they were attempting to eat the seal or merely harassing it—cannot be confirmed from video alone.
- The precise size of the pod is reported as “at least eight;” exact counts may vary between observers.
- Whether the wave-washing was a learned local tradition by this particular group or an opportunistic tactic cannot be determined without longer-term observation.
Bottom Line
The footage captured by Charvet Drucker provides a striking real-world example of orca hunting tactics and the fraught moments that can occur when wild predators encounter human vessels. It reaffirms the need for public awareness about how to behave during marine mammal encounters and why wildlife regulations stress minimal interference.
For scientists and managers, such encounters are valuable data points about predator-prey interactions in nearshore waters, but they should be documented responsibly and without intervention. Boaters and onlookers should follow local guidelines, keep distance, and report notable interactions to appropriate authorities to support both public safety and wildlife conservation.
Sources
- CBS News (national news report summarizing AP reporting)
- NOAA Fisheries – Killer whale info (federal agency species/background information)