A group of friends out boating got the thrill of a lifetime when their excursion turned into something you’d only see on a nature documentary.
They didn’t just witness an epic orca hunt, they became a part of it when their boat became a safe haven for one terrified seal.
The boaters were whale-wise and did their part in keeping a safe distance and turning off the engine when the action headed their way. Best of all, the group had a talented photographer on board who captured the whole experience.
Charvet Drucker, Smith Siromaskul and Terese DeBoer Drummond were boating in Saratoga Passage off Camano Island on Sunday, Nov. 2 when they spotted Bigg’s orcas. These killer whales are transient and roam from Alaska to Northern California, eating marine mammals like seals and porpoises. The Bigg’s population is estimated at around 380 killer whales, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association, unlike the Southern Resident orca population, whose numbers have dwindled to under 75 and primarily feed on Chinook salmon…