VIDEO: Wolf-eel-watching off Alki

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Jim Bodoia for the underwater photo and video we’re sharing as a Sunday afternoon “extra.”

He explains, “I was lucky enough to run into a couple of Pacific Wolf Eels off Alki, not too far from our Liberty Statue … We call them ‘eels’ but they’re actually very long fish (Anarrhichthys ocellatus). I’m fairly certain that the tan one [seen in the video] is a young female. At first she just poked her head out and then she joined me for a swim. The blue one [top photo] is a bit older and didn’t want to come out and play.” Learn more about wolf eels via the Seattle Aquarium website.

captainDave March 6, 2016 (6:19 pm)

Very cool. What I find also very interesting the giant sea cucumber a third of the way through the video. They are suppose to be quite tasty.

Dave March 6, 2016 (7:08 pm)

How deep and how far off shore are you? Lots of interesting things at that location.

Jeannie March 6, 2016 (8:22 pm)

Fantastic! Let’s be sure our waters and clean and healthy for our weird and wonderful sealife.

ClayJustSayin March 7, 2016 (8:34 am)

Really cool! Anybody have an idea what the rope is (was) for?

NW March 7, 2016 (9:55 am)

Feels good knowing the contributions to a cleaner puget sound were put forth by community members over the weekend cleaner the streets in the admiral district. I have to remember in this city if it’s on the ground its in the sound.

terre March 7, 2016 (11:21 am)

Just fantastic. thank you for sharing this — the video was long enough and clear enough that I had a Wolf Eel experience myself. I love how she pulled that last inch of tail in at that end. Thanks!

WestSeattleJimbo March 9, 2016 (10:32 am)

It’s great to see this much interest in what’s living in our precious Puget Sound waters. Dave, the depth of these habitats depends on the tides and was about 60 feet when I filmed this.

Thanks so much to WSB for posting this and thanks for the interest and the great comments about keeping the waters clean and reducing toxic runoff. These little guys appreciate it.

I went back with snacks yesterday and got the shy male to come out a little ways for food. My equipment is limited but I did get more decent footage. I’ll try to piece something together to share. Thanks again to everyone for the great comments. J.B.

Sorry, comment time is over.