On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:23:18 -0400, Zombie of Woodstock
wrote:

With respect to orcas, I would think that it's done, but I don't know
of an instance where it's ever been documented. I do know that
dolphins, a orca cousin if you will, will hard bait into balls and
have at it. It dolphins do it, it makes sense that an orca would too.

I have seen in one episode of 'animal snuff', orcas eating a blue
whale, seals, salmon, and sardines. The latter were in a regular
school, not a dense ball.

Casady

On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:22:36 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:23:18 -0400, Zombie of Woodstock
wrote:

With respect to orcas, I would think that it's done, but I don't know
of an instance where it's ever been documented. I do know that
dolphins, a orca cousin if you will, will hard bait into balls and
have at it. It dolphins do it, it makes sense that an orca would too.

I have seen in one episode of 'animal snuff', orcas eating a blue
whale, seals, salmon, and sardines. The latter were in a regular
school, not a dense ball.

I've seen that too. Sharks will routinely chase schooling fish up
against a beach and orcas will do the same to seals and penquins (I
think - seems to me I remember seeing something about that somewhere).

Orcas are larger than dolphins and a little less nimble and quick
because of it, so using a bait ball herding technique wouldn't seem to
be something they could easily do.

I don't know - it's a good question.

On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:26:06 -0400, Zombie of Woodstock
wrote:

Orcas are larger than dolphins

Much larger. We saw an orca coming south from AK. The dorsal fin is
huge, easily visible from 200 yards away.

On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:29:48 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:26:06 -0400, Zombie of Woodstock
wrote:

Orcas are larger than dolphins

Much larger. We saw an orca coming south from AK. The dorsal fin is
huge, easily visible from 200 yards away.

I have seen one up close and personal but it was years ago - the same
trip where I ran into that Kodiak bear while char fishing.

Interesting critters.

Did you see any other whales or walrus? I was watching "Deadliest
Catch" a couple of weeks ago and the "Wizard" crab boat ran into a
herd of walrus - apparently it's a good luck thing with crabbers -
where the herd of walrus are, that's where the king crab are.

"Zombie of Woodstock" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:22:36 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:23:18 -0400, Zombie of Woodstock
wrote:

With respect to orcas, I would think that it's done, but I don't know
of an instance where it's ever been documented. I do know that
dolphins, a orca cousin if you will, will hard bait into balls and
have at it. It dolphins do it, it makes sense that an orca would too.

I have seen in one episode of 'animal snuff', orcas eating a blue
whale, seals, salmon, and sardines. The latter were in a regular
school, not a dense ball.

I've seen that too. Sharks will routinely chase schooling fish up
against a beach and orcas will do the same to seals and penquins (I
think - seems to me I remember seeing something about that somewhere).

Orcas are larger than dolphins and a little less nimble and quick
because of it, so using a bait ball herding technique wouldn't seem to
be something they could easily do.

I don't know - it's a good question.


I recall watching a show about the balls that the bait fish form. According
to the show, the bait fish form up like that as a defensive measure. Makes
them look like a large, menacing creature, plus it reduces the chances of
any one particular fish being gobbled up.
The hunters are onto it though and let them form up, then go in for the
attack.

Eisboch