JEFFERSON COUNTY, Wash. — An afternoon spent crabbing on the Hood Canal quickly turned into a moment Kim Morgan will never forget.
On Sunday afternoon, Morgan was on her boat near Dabob Bay when she had an encounter with an orca, which was captured on camera.
In the video, the orca can be seen swimming up to the family's boat and spouting.
"He kinda snuck up on us," Morgan wrote to KING 5. "He seemed very curious with us."
Morgan said everyone on the boat was excited. She had never been that close to an orca before.
"We were out crabbing and had no idea we would experience such an epic moment," Morgan wrote to KING 5. "We did get a bit nervous just because of the size. Definitely suspenseful."
While there have been a few reports of orcas attacking boats around the world and all large whales are capable of capsizing vessels, officials have no reason to believe Washington’s killer whales present a threat to humans or vessels, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,.
Officials urge those on the water to remain aware of their surroundings and have a plan in case of emergency situations.
Under state law, boaters are required to stay at least 400 yards away from Southern Resident killer whales. Then, starting in 2025, they will have to stay 1,000 yards away from the animals in all directions.
According to WDFW, orcas are known to spread out while looking for food and may approach boats. If that happens, boaters are urged to turn off their engines and wait until the whale or whales leave the area.