A surprising and unique animal interaction was recently captured on camera by birdwatcher Clare Jacobs. The encounter took place in Newtown Harbour on the Isle of Wight and involved a grey seal and a white-tailed eagle.
As the eagle swooped over the ocean and descended towards the water’s surface, a grey seal emerged from below and broke the surface. In an unprecedented defensive tactic, the seal spat a stream of water right at the bird.
This behavior has never been observed or recorded before, making it a truly extraordinary event. Clare Jacobs, who captured the moment, expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m always thrilled to catch photos of the eagles. But catching such a rare and never before seen interaction made my year!”
After witnessing this incredible interaction, Clare immediately shared the photographs with her daughter Meg Jacobs, a paleontologist from the University of Portsmouth. Together, they co-authored a study to further understand the behaviors of these two predators and what they could mean for their species.
According to Meg Jacobs, this is the first recorded interaction between grey seals and white-tailed eagles. It is also the first report of grey seals using spitting as a defense or deterrence against an aerial foe. The spitting behavior may be a strategy employed by the seals to exclude white-tailed eagles from competing for prey, as they are in direct competition for fish resources.
Interestingly, spitting is not commonly seen in vertebrates outside of humans, camels, llamas, and alpacas. This encounter challenges our existing perceptions of animal defense mechanisms and highlights the fascinating complexity of the animal kingdom.
In another recent unusual animal interaction, scientists in South Africa shared details about an orca whale attack on a great white shark. The killer whale managed to attack and kill the shark on its own in less than two minutes. While multiple orcas attacking a great white shark have been recorded, this instance is one of the first widely observed solo attacks by an orca whale.
