In a new development, resident killer whales have been seen toying with harbor porpoises, according to a story by reporter Larry Pynn, who writes about the phenomenon earlier this month in the Vancouver Sun.

He included comments from Joe Gaydos, who was my source on this blog post. He also quoted John Ford, a researcher with the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, who said females may be treating them like their own offspring:

“It could be a maternal-driven behavior that is misdirected towards another species. These animals (porpoises) are often sort of carried about on their backs or heads, pushed around. It’s almost like a behavior you’d see with a distressed or dead calf of a killer whale. We’ve seen a still-born calf pushed along or carried along by the mother.”

The only dog I’ve ever had actually hunt, kill and eat prey is a Standard Poodle. Other than watch him follow a scent, I’ve never caught him at it…only found the evidence on his cream colored jaws. I added bells to his collar to warn the little birds and squirrels but within a week or two, the evidence was back on his jaws … and he leaves nothing behind.
He is not ‘hungry’…he gets free choice every night and breakfast every morning. He has a high activity level and entertains himself physically fit.

Is it possible the whales sensed an overpopulation and simply rebalanced nature?
Sharon O’Hara

He is well fed and fit.