A wildlife photographer captured a dramatic encounter on video between a harbor seal and a pod of killer whales.
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) November 14, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Sometimes you just gotta look for a boat…
A wildlife photographer out on a whale watching trip in waters off Seattle captured dramatic video and photos of a pod of killer whales hunting a seal that survived only by clambering onto the stern of her boat.
Charvet Drucker was on a rented 20-foot (6-meter) boat near her home on an island in the Salish Sea about 40 miles northwest of Seattle when she spotted a pod of at least eight killer whales, also known as orcas.
The orcas’ coordinated movements and tail slaps suggested they were hunting. Drucker used the zoom lens on her camera to spot a harbor seal that was trying to flee from the pod. One of her shots showed the seal flying through the air above the scrum of orcas frothing the water, and she assumed she was witnessing the seal’s last moments alive.
But as the orcas got closer to the boat, Drucker and her group realized the pod was still chasing the seal. In line with wildlife boating regulations, they had cut the engine to prevent any injury to the whales. The seal clambered out of the water and onto a swimming platform at the stern of the boat near the motor — claiming it as a life raft of sorts…
“You poor thing,” Drucker can be heard saying, as the seal looks up at her. “You’re good, just stay, buddy.”
The orcas did not give up immediately, but instead appeared to team up to rock the boat and make the seal fall off. Drucker’s cellphone video shows the orcas lining up and moving in on the boat with staggered dives to create waves. The “wave-washing” technique has been documented since by scientists since at least the 1980s, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The seal on Drucker’s boat slid off at least once, but managed to climb back on, and the orcas swam away after about 15 minutes…
“I’m definitely Team Orca, all day, every day. But once that seal was on the boat, I kind of turned (into) Team Seal,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday.
moonbat
You go, harbor seal. Any port in a storm.
And what a pleased looking, chonky baby.
cain
For those of you who weren’t comfortable with mastodon because it didn’t have all the features twitter did – finally with the new release of mastodon we have quote toots. So it’s going to be a lot like twitter. Of course, there is still no algorithm but honestly just follow hashtags of your favorite subject. It’s pretty cool.
SpaceUnit
I myself have often had to leap from the water onto a strange passing vessel in order to avoid being consumed by an orca. Yeah, it’s a thing.
Tehanu
Can I be on Team Seal too?
Betty Cracker
The seal is so beautiful in that photo. The poor creature must have been terrified in that moment, given it was in imminent danger of being killed and eaten by the orca pod! Yet it looks so beatific, with a seeming smile far more mysterious than Mona Lisa’s and its right flipper jauntily knuckled over on the gunwale. I hope it survives yet in its lovely harbor!
I remember the first time I saw wild seals, which was also the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean. A friend and I drove cross country, originating in Florida and eventually making our way to San Luis Obispo. I was really excited about the opportunity to see seals, which I’d heard were plentiful at that beach.
We parked the car and rushed to the shoreline, and I didn’t see any seals at first and said aloud, where are the seals? Someone pointed out that the shapes I’d taken for rocks all around were lounging seals. It was so cool! I also discovered the Pacific is COLD, even in July.
columbusqueen
Thank goodness that pretty baby made it to the boat! I’m always Team Seal.
Tony Jay
That seal looks how I feel whenever I bite into a pork Dim Sum.
Betty Cracker
@Tony Jay: Off topic, but JFC, you were right about Starmer.
Princess
@Tony Jay: Betty’s right. I was skeptical but I have to hand it to you — you were spot on and I was wrong.
Tony Jay
@Betty Cracker:
@Princess:
He’s an absolute peach, isn’t he? An empty vessel of a man filled to the brim with other people’s bad ideas. Perfect figurehead for the Labour Right – Vapid, greedy and endlessly spiteful.
I feel a rant coming.
Another Scott
Life is hard.
I’ve seen stories that claim orcas are starving because of lack of salmon.
I try to avoid taking sides in events like these, though it is of course tragic for the individuals involved.
Best wishes,
Scott.
Scout211
Thanks, TaMara.
Here’s another one that I watched twice yesterday for respite:
Baby sea otter is reunited with mother in California after long search
[happy tears]
WaterGirl
@Scout211: I am tearing up myself.
BigJimSlade
@Another Scott: Yeah, I was thinking of that, too. That’s one fine looking seal, though (and smart)!
JustRuss
I was kayaking in the Puget Sound once, far off in the distance I saw some sort of buoy bobbing violently. Thought that was odd, the water around me was pretty calm. A minute later the buoy was gone, and I realized it was probably an orca thrashing a seal. Not a fun way to go.