Orcas Spotted Off Cape Cod

Orcas have been spotted off Cape Cod for the second time this summer.

The Cape Cod Times reports that a group of tuna fishermen about 12 miles off the coast spotted four orcas on Tuesday and posted a video of the encounter online.

The whales stayed nearby for 10 to 15 minutes and at one point swam under the boat.

The sighting was confirmed by marine biologists at the New England Aquarium in Boston.

Whale researcher Philip Hamilton says seeing orcas in New England waters is relatively rare, and when they are seen they are usually farther off shore. The East Coast orca population is centered around Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.

In early July, a well-known, solitary, adult male orca named Old Tom was also spotted off Cape Cod.  (Associated Press)