In 1987, the Southern Resident orcas of the Pacific Northwest decided to get weird. It started with a single female from Puget Sound’s K-Pod. She was spotted swimming around with a dead, rotting salmon perched directly on top of her head.
A hat.
Basically, she was wearing a fish like a fascinator at a royal wedding. It sounds like a joke, but it wasn’t. Within weeks, the killer whale salmon hat trend exploded. It went viral before "going viral" was even a thing. By the end of that summer, orcas in two other pods—L-Pod and J-Pod—were also sporting dead salmon on their heads. They didn't eat them. They just wore them.
Then, just as quickly as it started, the fashion statement vanished. By the following year, the "hats" were gone, and the orcas went back to their normal, non-accessorized lives.
The Mystery of Orca "Fads"
Scientists call this a "temporary cultural tradition," but honestly, it’s a fad. Just like humans wearing low-rise jeans or doing the Macarena, orcas occasionally pick up useless habits just because everyone else is doing it. Dr. Sandie Cherry and other marine biologists have documented these behaviors for decades, noting that orcas are among the few species on Earth with a complex enough social structure to support "trends" that have zero survival value.
The killer whale salmon hat is the most famous example because of how absurd it looks. Imagine a six-ton apex predator, a creature capable of taking down a Great White shark, just chilling with a slimy Chinook salmon draped over its blowhole.
Why did they do it?
We don't actually know for sure. Some researchers think it might have started as a play behavior that got out of hand. Orcas are incredibly intelligent and, frankly, they get bored. When one influential whale starts doing something new and interesting, the others—especially the juveniles and females—tend to mimic it.
Culture vs. Instinct
There is a big difference between an orca learning how to beach itself to grab a seal (which is a survival skill passed down through generations) and an orca wearing a fish. One is education; the other is a hobby.
The salmon hat wasn't helping them hunt. It wasn't a mating ritual. It was just... a vibe.
This behavior highlights something we often forget about marine mammals: they have personalities. They have "in-groups" and "out-groups." They have peer pressure. If the "cool" whale in K-Pod is wearing a salmon, you’re probably going to want to wear a salmon too.
It Wasn't Just the Salmon
While the killer whale salmon hat is the most visual example of orca weirdness, it's part of a larger pattern of odd behaviors that pop up in different populations. In the 2020s, we saw the "boat-ramming" trend off the coast of Spain and Portugal. A group of orcas, led by a female named White Gladis, started targeting the rudders of sailboats.
Is it a protest against climate change? Revenge for a past injury?
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Most experts, including those from the Atlantic Orca Working Group, lean toward it being another fad. It’s play. Destructive, expensive play for the boat owners, sure, but for the whales, it's just a game.
Other orca fads have included:
- Teasing seals: Catching them, letting them go, and catching them again without ever eating them.
- Nosing things: Pushing around buoys or logs for miles for no apparent reason.
- Vocal mimicry: Copying the sounds of sea lions or even boat engines just to see if they can.
The salmon hat stands out because it was so localized in time. It happened in 1987, peaked, and died. It hasn't really been seen in that specific way since. It was a 1980s phenomenon, just like neon leg warmers.
What This Tells Us About Marine Intelligence
We tend to look at animals through a lens of "biological necessity." We assume every move they make is calculated for food, safety, or reproduction. But orcas challenge that.
The killer whale salmon hat proves that these animals have leisure time. If you have enough food and your pod is safe, what do you do with your day? You play. You experiment. You do stupid things with your friends.
The complexity of their brain, particularly the paralimbic system, is designed for processing deep emotions and social connections. Their sense of "self" is tied to the group. If the group decides that dead fish are the new black, then dead fish it is.
The Role of Social Learning
Social learning is the engine behind these trends. Orcas are "obligate social learners," meaning they don't just rely on instinct; they learn how to be an orca by watching others. This is why different pods have different "dialects" of clicks and whistles.
It’s also why a fad can spread so fast.
In 1987, the salmon hat spread across three pods that frequently interacted. They saw, they imitated, and they moved on. It’s a testament to their observational skills. They aren't just robots swimming in the dark; they are active observers of their world and each other.
Why We Don't See the Salmon Hat Anymore
You might wonder why modern orcas haven't brought the trend back. After all, "retro" is big with humans.
The reality is that the Southern Resident orca population is in trouble. In 1987, salmon populations were healthier. Today, the Southern Residents are struggling with a massive decline in their primary food source, the Chinook salmon.
When you're starving, you don't play with your food. You eat it.
The disappearance of the killer whale salmon hat might actually be a sad indicator of the stress these whales are under. Play behavior usually requires an abundance of resources. When the fish disappeared, the "hats" became a luxury the whales could no longer afford.
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It’s a stark reminder that animal culture is fragile. If the environment changes too much, these unique social quirks—the things that make them "who they are"—get wiped out in favor of basic survival.
Actionable Insights for Ocean Lovers
Understanding the lighter side of orca history helps us connect with them, but it also highlights the need for conservation. If we want to see whales being "weird" again, we have to ensure they have enough to eat.
Support Salmon Restoration
The Southern Residents rely almost exclusively on Chinook salmon. Supporting dam removals and habitat restoration in the Pacific Northwest is the most direct way to help.
Practice Responsible Whale Watching
If you’re out on the water, give them space. Noise pollution from boat engines interferes with their echolocation, making it harder for them to hunt and communicate. Stay at least 300-400 yards away depending on local regulations.
Stay Informed on "Vessel Regulations"
New laws are constantly being updated regarding how close boats can get to pods in the Salish Sea. Check the Be Whale Wise guidelines before heading out.
The story of the killer whale salmon hat is a glimpse into the mind of an alien intelligence living right here on Earth. It reminds us that orcas aren't just "monsters of the deep" or "majestic icons." They’re individuals with a sense of humor, a sense of style, and a very strange way of showing it. Next time you see a photo of an orca, remember that somewhere in their history, they decided a fish on the head was the height of fashion. That alone makes them worth saving.