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On October 7, 2022 two families of Bigg's killer whales, the T065As and T099s, successfully hunted an adult Minke whale south of the San Juan Islands in Washington state. We were able to document the hunt as well as the hours long feeding behavior afterwards. Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea predominately prey on harbor seals, sea lions and porpoise.
This was an incredibly rare event to witness, and joining us as our guest to help tell the story of the minke takedown is friend and colleague, April Ryan. Along with Jeff and Sara, April is a captain and marine naturalist with Maya's Legacy Whale Watching in Friday Harbor.
After discussing the humpbacks April joins Sara and Jeff to recount the minke hunt. The minke whale was a known minke who we have seen on our tours. She was first documented in the Salish Sea in 1982, as an adult, making her approximately 50 years old.
For complete show notes, photos and links, please visit our website: https://www.afterthebreachpodcast.com/e/episode-8-orcas-take-a-minke-whale/
Video from the minke hunt:
Rare clash between two humpbacks and group of orcas
Orcas Take Down Minke Whale
Tour boat stunned as orcas take down large minke whale in Juan de Fuca Strait
Humpback whale "Caspian" Photo by Sara Shimazu.
Humpback whale "Caspian" Photo by Sara Shimazu.
TO65As and T099s hunting minke whale. Photo by April Ryan.
T065As and T099s hunting minke whale. Photo by April Ryan.
T065As and T099s hunting minke whale. Photo by April Ryan.
T065As and T099s hunting minke whale. Photo by April Ryan.
By Jeff Friedman and Sara Shimazu5
5656 ratings
On October 7, 2022 two families of Bigg's killer whales, the T065As and T099s, successfully hunted an adult Minke whale south of the San Juan Islands in Washington state. We were able to document the hunt as well as the hours long feeding behavior afterwards. Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea predominately prey on harbor seals, sea lions and porpoise.
This was an incredibly rare event to witness, and joining us as our guest to help tell the story of the minke takedown is friend and colleague, April Ryan. Along with Jeff and Sara, April is a captain and marine naturalist with Maya's Legacy Whale Watching in Friday Harbor.
After discussing the humpbacks April joins Sara and Jeff to recount the minke hunt. The minke whale was a known minke who we have seen on our tours. She was first documented in the Salish Sea in 1982, as an adult, making her approximately 50 years old.
For complete show notes, photos and links, please visit our website: https://www.afterthebreachpodcast.com/e/episode-8-orcas-take-a-minke-whale/
Video from the minke hunt:
Rare clash between two humpbacks and group of orcas
Orcas Take Down Minke Whale
Tour boat stunned as orcas take down large minke whale in Juan de Fuca Strait
Humpback whale "Caspian" Photo by Sara Shimazu.
Humpback whale "Caspian" Photo by Sara Shimazu.
TO65As and T099s hunting minke whale. Photo by April Ryan.
T065As and T099s hunting minke whale. Photo by April Ryan.
T065As and T099s hunting minke whale. Photo by April Ryan.
T065As and T099s hunting minke whale. Photo by April Ryan.

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