Visitors at the Ballard Locks got quite a surprise Monday evening as multiple orcas were spotted navigating through the water.
Visitors at the Ballard Locks got quite a surprise Monday evening as multiple orcas were spotted navigating through the water.
Video taken by viewers shows the orcas moving through the locks at around 5 p.m. People usually come to the locks to watch seals and salmon, but no one could recall a time when orcas have ever been spotted there.
Peter Horsman was out fishing with his daughter, waiting to go through the Ballard Locks, when they spotted something they'd never seen before.
"And we looked at each other like, 'Wait, that can't be!' And then we turned, and they were right there," Horsman said.
"And suddenly, three young orcas just popped up right next to our boat. It was crazy. I've never seen them this close to the locks," he added.
Video from multiple viewers shows the orcas swimming through the Ballard Locks. Visitors like Beverly Silvia have come to the locks plenty of times and can't recall any time orcas have ever been spotted there.
"I didn't believe you, I thought it's not possible. I just am shocked, I've never seen them that close in, I've seen them out in the sound many times but never in here," Silvia said.
Researchers with the Orca Conservancy say that from looking at the dorsal fin and other physical features, these are likely transient, or mammal-eating, orcas looking for seals or porpoises in the area.
"I think these whales, in part, they're just exploring a part of their home range and they're pushing into new areas and seeing what's around," said Chloe Kotik, associate researcher with the Orca Conservancy. "But this would also be a good hunting spot for them if they can maneuver in this relatively tight channel to find marine mammal prey. It's a good spot."
"If you've ever walked over the Ballard Locks, you might have looked down and seen a harbor seal going in there, probably looking for salmon," Kotik added. "So if these whales are hunting for harbor seals, the Ballard Locks are not a bad place to look."
A photo of a seal with a salmon in its mouth at the Ballard Locks in Seattle in August, 2026. The seals are at the Locks for the good hunting ground and it's also brought orcas for the same reason. (Photo: Don Clapp via #SoNorthwest Photography Group)That hunting spot led to a special moment for visitors lucky enough to be there to capture it.
"It was just magnificent. I have no other words for it. It was beautiful," Horsman said.
Researchers say these mammal-eating orcas travel all along the coast from California up to Alaska, but can be seen in the Puget Sound all year round.
