Orcas are wearing “salmon hats” again, 37 years later. Don’t know why

The trend of wearing dead salmon on their heads is back for orcas in the Pacific Northwest, almost 40 years later. Scientists believe it will be a way to save food for later.

Orcas of the Pacific Northwest have resurrected a peculiar behavior known as the “salmon hat”, a phenomenon first observed in the 1980s.

Last month, scientists and whale watchers reported sightings of orcas in South Puget Sound and off Point No Point in Washington state swimming with dead fish perched on their heads.

The trend was last recorded in summer of 1987when a female orca triggered the behavior that quickly spread throughout her group. The practice disappeared the following summer. Researchers speculate that some current salmon hat wearers may be the same individuals who participated in the trend almost 40 years ago.

The exact motivation behind this peculiar behavior remains a mystery. Deborah Giles, a killer whale researcher at the University of Washington, admitted: “Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.”

Theories suggest it could be a response to food abundance. Currently, southern Puget Sound is rich in chum salmon, which has led researchers to hypothesize that orcas may be storing fish for later consumption by balancing them on their heads.

Orcas have previously been observed storing food in other ways, such as placing larger pieces under their pectoral fins. However, salmon can be too small for this methodmaking your head a convenient alternative, explains .

Advances in research tools such as drones could offer new insights into the phenomenon. These devices can help detect whether killer whales end up consuming the fish or if they abandon them. If this last hypothesis is observed, it could call food storage theory into question and lead scientists to explore alternative explanations.

Regardless of their purpose, the return of salmon caps has excited researchers and whale watchers alike. Giles expressed his excitement, saying: “It’s been a while since I’ve seen him in person.” For now, the unique orca hat remains an enigma.