Killer whales attack Patch the gray whale in Saratoga Passage in big rumble Sunday

A roving pack of transient killer whales attacked an adult gray whale Sunday in a Puget Sound rumble witnessed by a boat full of whale watchers.

Recorded live by one of the tourists, the attack occurred in Saratoga Passage, between Camano and Whidbey islands, when a pack of seven transient orca whales rammed an adult gray whale.

Not just any gray, but Patch, as the male, believed to be about 25 years old, is known. A regular visitor, he was first sighted in 1991 and has a following of fans who track his comings and goings in Puget Sound every year.

"Patch must be our most famous whale," said Susan Berta of Orca Network, a nonprofit advocacy group. After the attack the whale swam to a shallow beach north of Langley around 2 p.m., and appeared to rest for a bit, not feeding, but just coming to the surface to breathe, Berta said. It is not known if, or how badly, he was injured, Berta said.

"This was not hunting; they rammed him several times, then he rolled on his back, as a protective measure," Berta said. The gray whale was seen Monday morning near Hat Island, and appeared to be normal, but no one knows for sure, she said.

It is unusual for transients to take on an adult gray whale. The orcas usually prey on gray whale calves as the young animals cruise the outer coast with their mothers.

Transient killer whales mostly frequent the waters of British Columbia, but also are found in Puget Sound, especially when they are chasing prey. They prefer mammals — seals, sea lions and even whales. The orca whales in Puget Sound's southern resident population, in contrast, eschew mammals and eat only fish, particularly chinook salmon.

Orca diet is cultural: The animals learn what's food for them from their families, and pass it along to the next generation.

Brad Hanson, biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service, was out on the water watching the transients Sunday. He watched as the pack took on at least one seal. The adult orcas hung back during the hunt, to allow younger animals to practice their skills.

"Right in our front yards we literally have these major predators. It's not something you have in many other areas," Hanson said.

"They were taking a few runs at it, while the adults were circling nearby, standing off," he said.

It is not unusual for biologists to discover rake marks on gray whales, the result of tangling with killer whales. Adult grays are no easy mark. Big and powerful, they are capable of striking powerful blows with their tails to defend themselves.

Berta said there had been several instances in the last several weeks in which transients rammed gray whales.

There are about 20,000 gray whales in the population that regularly migrates up and down Washington's coast. Another small population of grays frequents the inner waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca with such regularity the locals sometimes name them.