Orcas Wear Dead Fish as Hats After 40 Years, Scientists Unclear Why They Are Sporting the Unusual Fashion Trend Again Killer whales (orcas) returned to the Northwest Pacific, wearing their popular 'salmon hats' after 40 years.

In the 1980s, an orca on the West Coast of the United States started a strange trend that was quickly adopted not just by her pod, but by individuals from other pods, too: wearing dead salmon hats. And yes,

Orcas off the coast of Washington State are balancing dead fish on their heads like it’s the 1980s, but researchers still aren’t sure why they do it

An especially popular killer whale put a dead fish on his head, in a throwback to a fashion last seen in the 1980s.

It’s a very sophisticated thing to do something for no purpose other than that it amuses you,” on researcher said.

About 40 years ago, researchers noticed a population of orcas had begun swimming around with dead fish on their heads, and now the craze is back

On October 25, a viral photo of a Southern Resident orca at Point No Point, Washington, was spotted with a salmon on its head — also known as a “salmon hat.” According to the Orca Network – a Washington nonprofit – the salmon hat phenomenon was first spotted in the late 80s among the endangered Southern Resident population.

In 1987, killer whales in Puget Sound donned salmon “hats,” carrying dead fish on their heads. Now, a photo of an orca has observers wondering if the trend has returned.

Deborah Giles told KUOW’s Kim Malcolm that while this "salmon hat" phenomenon is certainly noteworthy, it's likely not a hopeful sign of long-term recovery.