Predators: Seals & Otter & A Big Salmon

Several harbor seals catching and consuming a Chinook (king) salmon -- with a little help from gulls and an otter. From the Hammond Bridge over the tidal estuary of the Mad River in Humboldt County, California. The seals seemed to cooperatively tear the salmon apart and ate almost the entire fish. The river otter inspected the remains, but didn't appear to eat any of it. The otter seemed to be on the lookout for seals, and a seal later chased the otter away from a second fish they had caught upstream.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Harbor
• Seal
• Chinook
• King
• Salmon
• River
• Otter
• Estuary
• Humboldt
• California
• Fish
• Fishing
• Predators
• Marine
• Biology
• シールサケカワウソ-マッド川
• saumon
• phoque
• loutre
• Salmón
• foca

[salmondiver101]

How far did the seals swim up from the ocean? Anyway, great footage.

[HumboldtMike]

@salmondiver101 Thanks. This spot is maybe 2 river miles from the current river mouth. The seals regularly go up several miles more, but I don't know the upper limit.

[dariusdmj]

Only if she eats salmon

[HumboldtMike]

Well then catching a seal might be a win-win situation for ya...

[dariusdmj]

Can't wait to put a huge bridge right across that thing so I can throw a fishing line off it and grab a huge salmon Or huge seal Either one is fine with me.

[HumboldtMike]

You should put the effort into casting a line for a woman...

[salmondiver101]

Alright, thanks.