U.S. Coast Guard flies in for a closer look at killer whale pod

FLORENCE, Ore. - Helicopter crew members from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Bend were making a routine trip from North Bend to Newport Saturday afternoon when they spotted a pod of killer whales hunting off the coast near Florence.

According to Lt. Wes Jones, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, the crew was flying about 3,000 feet above the water when they saw a swarm of white water in the ocean below. They flew lower to get a closer look.

Once they descended, Jones said he saw a pod of six killer whales ranging in size.

The crew flew circles around the pod and witnessed them jumping and swimming around a sea lion.

Jones said it appeared the pod was teaching the younger whales how to hunt. The whales would all go under at the same time and surface at the same time.

He said three whales would swim beneath the sea lion and then smack their tails on the surface of the water in perfect synchronization.

One whale would drag the sea lion under water, but Jones said it didn't look like they planned to kill the sea lion. He didn't see any blood.

Jones took photos and shared them on the U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Bend Facebook page.