Orcas have been seen donning dead fish on their heads once again.
This peculiar behavior was first observed in the 1980s, a decade known for its unique fashion choices. Now, much like fashion trends often do, this quirky ‘hat’ has resurfaced. Recently, scientists and whale watchers in Washington State have spotted orcas with dead salmon adorning their heads.
A member of the Orca Network Community Group on Facebook shared a photo last month featuring an orca with this unexpected headgear.
“A few more long distance shots from Point No Point,” the post stated alongside the images.
“And the salmon hat again. Sound Watch kept the few boats out in line. I wish they could be out with them every day.”
The origin of this peculiar behavior remains a mystery, and so does its resurgence.
One theory suggests that orcas might use salmons on their heads as a form of storage, rather than a fashion statement, possibly due to having caught more fish than they can consume at once.
Such behavior has been observed previously.
“We’ve seen mammal-eating killer whales carry large chunks of food under their pectoral fin, kind of tucked in next to their body,” said Deborah Giles, an orca researcher at the University of Washington, to New Scientist.
Some researchers have also speculated that orcas develop ‘fads’, and this salmon-wearing could be one of them.
A 2024 study published by the International Whaling Commission noted: “Some populations may also develop unusual and temporary behavioral ‘fads’ and other idiosyncrasies that do not appear to serve any obvious adaptive purpose.”
“Understanding the recent boat interactions by Iberian killer whales may benefit from an examination of such ephemeral traditions in other well-studied killer whale populations.”
Supporting this, Jared Towers, director of Bay Cetology, previously told Discover: “Killer whales do have fads that come and go, and they’re often most prevalent among certain sex and age classes in the population. Then, over time, they tend to disappear.”
Discussing another apparent ‘fad’ where some orcas have been ramming into boats, Towers added: “I’m certainly hoping that’s what happens with this behavior. But it’s been going on for a few years now. So, we’re not quite sure what to expect.”
In summary, orcas are truly fascinating creatures.