A quirky fashion trend among Washington’s orcas has resurfaced: the “dead-salmon hat.” Once last spotted in the 1980s, the trend appears to have made a comeback, with recent sightings of killer whales sporting expired salmon off Point No Point in Kitsap County and in South Puget Sound.
The phenomenon was first noted by the conservation charity ORCA earlier this year. It traces back to 1987 when one orca was seen wearing a dead salmon on its head. Within a short time, three other pods, including the original orca’s group, followed the trend. However, whether the salmon-hat craze will catch on again remains to be seen.
Andrew Foote, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Oslo, speculated that some of the orcas that experienced the behavior during its original run may have sparked the revival. He likened it to rediscovering a forgotten, yet loved, item in a closet. “It’s possible that some individuals may have started it again,” Foote told *New Scientist*.
However, experts believe the trend may be short-lived. After debuting in 1987, the salmon hats reportedly fell out of favor by the summer of 1988.
The reason behind the orcas’ salmon headgear remains unclear, but one theory suggests that the abundance of chum salmon in South Puget Sound may be a factor. Researchers believe the well-fed whales might use the fish as a form of storage, much like how mammal-eating orcas tuck food under their pectoral fins for later consumption. Deborah Giles, an orca researcher at the University of Washington, explained that the salmon might be too small to carry in the usual way, so the headgear serves as an alternative.
As new technology emerges, researchers may have a better chance of tracking this trend. Camera drones could provide valuable footage of the orcas in their salmon hats, offering scientists the opportunity to determine whether the whales eventually eat the fish or simply abandon their unusual accessories.
While it remains uncertain whether the trend will stick, the return of the “dead-salmon hat” has certainly piqued interest among both whale watchers and researchers alike.
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