Outdoors – Page 192 – Syndication Server

Plea issued after deer becomes entangled in Christmas lights

An animal care facility in California is asking people to keep wildlife in mind while decorating their homes for the holidays.

The plea was issued Monday after an Animal Services Officer with Marin Humane responded to reports of a deer that had become become entangled in Christmas lights in the Marin County town of San Anselmo.

Jessica Needham of the nonprofit was not able to free the buck of its burden, but did take photographs to illustrate the extent of the entanglement.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Nature’s artistry revealed in stunning whale photo

“Catching deer is extremely difficult and catching a buck is even trickier,” Marin Humane announced in a statement. “Our officers would have to use a control pole to get a handle on him, which leaves them open to the risk of being charged and injured. Luckily, this guy is still able to graze and run just fine.”

The group stated that it’ll continue to “monitor the situation” and expressed hope that the buck will become free of the lights when he sheds his antlers during the winter.

Lisa Bloch, a Marin Humane spokeswoman, told the San Jose Mercury News that the Christmas lights were likely strewn loosely around bushes or between trees in the rural neighborhood, “and the deer just walked into them.”

The group, which is not affiliated with the Humane Society of the United States, said in a statement:

“This serves as a good reminder that when hanging holiday decorations, make sure they’re secure and high enough where they’re less likely to be an issue for wildlife.

“We’re lucky to share our space with so many animals so let’s be mindful of their safety, even when we’re getting festive!”

–Images courtesy of Jessica Needham/Marin Humane

Watch: Shark knocks 7-year-old boy off surfboard

Chandler Moore was surfing at a beach known as the shark attack capital of the world when he was knocked into the water by a blacktip shark.

Chandler Moore, 7, was surfing at a Florida beach known as the shark attack capital of the world when he was knocked into the water by a blacktip shark.

It happened so quickly that his father Shaun Moore, who posted the video on social media, wasn’t aware of the shark and what happened until someone pointed it out to him.

@GoPro @wsl @surfline Check out what I captured on my GoPro from my sons surfing session on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/pygwNv3FoW

— Shaun Moore (@ShaunMoore) December 2, 2019

“One of the surfers out there through social media got in touch,” Tennille Moore, Chandler’s mother, explained to WESH. “He was like, ‘Did you see the shark?’ And Shaun’s like, ‘What shark?’ So we slowed the video down and we were amazed.”

The incident occurred Saturday at New Smyrna Beach, a location known for its shark attacks. NatGeo reported that it is the shark attack capital of the world according to the International Shark Attack File, and said it estimates that anyone who has swam there has been within 10 feet of a shark.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Shark helps fisherman land huge tuna

“I’m like the luckiest boy ever since I didn’t get bit by that shark,” Chandler told WESH. He went on to explain what happened.

“So I’m just, like, standing up on this normal wave, and then I see fish, that makes me scared, so I kind of start to turn it, but then the shark hits me and knocks me right off.”

Two fish had jumped out of the water in front of him and he thought a third one had struck him. He learned later it was a shark.

“That explains why two fish in front of me jumped out of the water, because they got scared of the shark,” he told WESH.

But Chandler isn’t afraid of sharks. And the shark encounter isn’t going to scare him away from surfing. On the contrary.

“It’s not going to keep Chandler out of the water for sure,” Tennille Moore told WESH. “He’ll be out there. He’d be out there every day if he could.”

Photo courtesy of Shaun Moore.

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Surfer Mark Healey fends off shark while freediving

The accompanying video clip shows a large shark approaching Mark Healey, who ends the encounter with a firm jab to the shark’s snout.

Mark Healey makes a living as a big-wave surfer who spends most of the year chasing enormous swells around the world. But when the athlete isn’t riding waves, he often seeks solitude and adventure beneath the surface, freediving with a speargun, hunting fish for the dinner table.

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I’ve found that it’s worthwhile to make every effort (within reason) to not let sharks take a fish you’ve speared. They’re fast learners and when they are rewarded for a behavior they usually double down on it. That’s why they’ve been around for eons. Sometimes it’s unavoidable and the sharks beat you to your fish. This video is an example of how they act after being “rewarded”. I lost a fish to about five sharks earlier in the dive. Once that happens they have way less hesitation and they’ll shadow you all day. Even follow the boat if you switch spots sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t feel in danger at all here, but if I ended up shooting that Wahoo, you know this shark would have been all over it. Another good reason to avoid having the sharks take your fish (besides losing your food) is that you don’t want them to associate divers with food. It might not be a problem for you that day, but it may end up being a problem for the unwitting diver that that wild animal encounters next time.

A post shared by Mark Healey (@healeywaterops) on Dec 1, 2019 at 11:24am PST

This sometimes puts Healey in close proximity to sharks looking for an easy meal.

The accompanying video clip, posted to Instagram on Sunday, shows a large Galapagos shark approaching Healey, who ends the encounter with a firm jab to the shark’s snout with his spear tip.

“I’ve found that it’s worthwhile to make every effort (within reason) to not let sharks take a fish you’ve speared,” Healey wrote. “They’re fast learners and when they are rewarded for a behavior they usually double down on it.

“Sometimes it’s unavoidable and the sharks beat you to your fish. This video is an example of how they act after being ‘rewarded.’

Healey told For The Win Outdoors that he was diving off French Polynesia when the encounter occurred. He had recently lost a fish to several sharks that had been close by, and Healey had been eyeing a wahoo (also seen in the video clip) when the Galapagos shark approached.

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RACING STRIPES ———————————————photo: @kanoazimmerman #wahoo #freediving #healeywaterops

A post shared by Mark Healey (@healeywaterops) on Oct 23, 2019 at 4:08pm PDT

“There’s no shortage of sharks down there,” Healey said. “This shark was shadowing me to see if it could get another easy meal. It doesn’t have an aggressive posture towards me, but they don’t mind a bit of physical contact once they’re fired up.

“It had a competitive feeding situation when it vied with other sharks earlier in the day to eat my fish. It’s kind of like throwing a French fry to seagulls. Once they’ve seen it they’re not afraid to get close to you because they’re more concerned about beating the other seagulls to the next possible French fry.”

Healey, 38, who lives in Hawaii, said encounters like this are not uncommon in locations where sharks are plentiful, and he generally tries to exit the water as quickly as possible after securing his catch.

“You just have to read the scenario,” he said.

WATCH: Grand Canyon picture proves hikers don’t take warnings seriously

The Grand Canyon National Park Service shared a striking picture of visitors sliding down an icy trail Monday, using it as a clear example of what not to do.

With Thanksgiving Week bringing the holiday season in at full speed, travel advisories and warnings are being sent out across the country.

The Grand Canyon National Park Service shared a striking picture of visitors sliding down an icy trail Monday, using it as a clear example of what not to do.

“The top part of Grand Canyon trails are icy! Don’t risk it – like these folks.,” the tweet read, reminding hikers to wear traction on their shoes and take trekking poles on November hikes.

One day after the warning, the National Weather Service put the Canyon under a winter storm warning, prompting one entrance to the park to close in anticipation of 8 to 21 inches of snow.

Hikers take risk Grand Canyon officials warn against

Three imprudent and ill-equipped hikers were the perfect example for a warning issued by officials at Grand Canyon National Park.

Three imprudent and ill-equipped hikers were the perfect example for a warning issued by officials at Grand Canyon National Park to bring “shoe traction devices and trekking poles” because the top part of the trails are icy.

“Don’t risk it—like these folks,” the warning said in the tweet.

The warning came a day before the park’s announcement Tuesday that the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the area effective from Thursday afternoon through Friday night for elevations above 4,500 feet.

On the South Rim, the East Entrance Station and Desert View Drive, known as East Rim Drive, will close at 7 pm (MST) on Wednesday and remain closed until further notice, the park said.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Rescuer does the impossible to save big-wave surfer

The forecast calls for 8 to 12 inches at the South Rim and 15 to 21 inches on the North Rim, which is closed annually to vehicle traffic from Dec. 1 to May 15.

The warning tweet that included the photo of hikers, one in shorts and tennis shoes, descending an icy trail, prompted a barrage of replies, as one might expect.

“Those people are not smart.”

“Shouts to the guy in shorts and…running shoes?”

“That just looks like a verrrry bad choice.”

“They will probably need [rescuing]…going down…but tell me how the heck they are getting back up?”

“Darwin Award nominees!”

Photo courtesy of Grand Canyon National Park.

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A painful opening weekend for Wisconsin deer hunters

Deer hunters look forward to opening day, but not everyone is suitably prepared when that day arrives, and some are downright unfortunate.

Deer hunters always look forward to opening day, but not everyone is suitably prepared when that day arrives, and some are downright unfortunate.

Wisconsin is a case in point, having inauspiciously marked the beginning of its firearm-hunting season on Saturday.

According to a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources news release, a 38-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman accidentally shot themselves in the foot in separate instances; and a 19-year-old woman was shot in the hand by another hunter who was aiming at a running deer.

The injuries were not life-threatening.

On Sunday, a 31-year-old man was shot in a case that remains under investigation because the shooter has not been identified.

The WI DNR is seeking the public's help in the case of an adult male shot while deer hunting in Washburn County on Sunday, Nov. 24, of the opening weekend of the annual gun deer season, which so far has four hunting incidents.https://t.co/hiHSNzAM8t

— Wisconsin DNR (@WDNR) November 24, 2019

The DNR’s Bureau of Law Enforcement is hoping to interview hunters who were in certain Washburn County/Minong Township locations on Sunday.

The DNR stated: “Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, may confidentially relay their information by text, phone call or online to the WDNR Violation Tip Line: 1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367.”

Wisconsin is not the only state to have its opening weekend marred by accidental shootings.

Last week in Michigan, a man accidentally shot his brother after mistaking him for a deer. The brother was flown to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in serious but stable condition.

Also during opening weekend, two young boys were injured when a weapon discharged as their father was preparing for his hunt.

–White-tailed deer images are via Wikimedia Commons

Nature’s artistry revealed in stunning whale photo

A photographer in California’s Monterey Bay has captured an image showing a remarkable closeup of a humpback whale’s face and eye.

The most compelling whale images tend to show the majestic leviathans in full breach, lunge-feeding on schooling fish, or revealing their flukes.

But last Thursday a vastly different image was captured in California’s Monterey Bay by Eric Austin Yee, showing a remarkable closeup of a humpback whale’s face and eye.

“A curious humpback whale with its eye wide open doing some people watching,” Yee, who was with Blue Ocean Whale Watch, wrote for his Facebook description.

Open-eye shots are difficult to capture, but what helps set this image apart are the vivid patterns and surreal facial markings.

“It almost looks like a watercolor,” one person commented.

The circular marks are scars left by acorn barnacles, Alisa Schulman-Janiger, a California-based whale researcher, told For The Win Outdoors.

But it doesn’t require a vivid imagination to conjure a sea jelly, or jellyfish, with its tentacles draped around the whale’s blue eye.

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Or the billed creatures – one with what looks like a duck’s head – positioned in front of the eye.

“I think this is my favorite photo of a humpback that I have ever seen,” another commenter wrote. “Like, I want this in full print on my wall.”

Yee was working as a naturalist aboard the High Spirits, which was returning to port at Moss Landing when humpback whales were spotted.

“We were heading home but couldn’t resist turning around to a group of humpbacks that originally was two humpbacks, but became four,” Yee told For The Win Outdoors.

The whales swam to the boat after it had been idled, allowing Yee to capture the closeup, and Capt. Kate Cummings to capture her own images of the same whale, as well as video showing three of the whales engaged in “friendly” behavior alongside the vessel. (Images and video accompany this post.)

Cummings said the whale photographed by Yee stood out because of its extensive white markings, especially along its throat pleats.

Schulman-Janiger agreed with Cummings that they were likely part of a skin disease, but the whale seemed as playful and active and as the others and did not seem bothered by the skin condition.

Cummings posted her video to Facebook along with this description:

“Incredible experience today with friendly humpback whales! Three whales spent nearly a half hour circling and rolling around the boat and getting super close! One whale got a little too close and swiped the side of the boat with its flukes when it was twisting! For a whale, it was a gentle tap.”

Yee said he was shooting from the upper deck with an 80- to 200-millimeter lens.

–Images and video are courtesy of Blue Ocean Whale Watch

Rescuer does the impossible to save big-wave surfer

The World Surf League called it “one of the craziest rescues ever seen” when a big-wave surfer was picked up just in the nick of time.

The World Surf League called it “one of the craziest rescues ever seen” when Brazilian big-wave surfer Lucas Chumbo, after exiting a big wave, was picked up by his teammate on a jetski just moments away from total disaster.

The close call occurred during a big-wave session at the famous big-wave locale of Nazaré, Portugal, last Wednesday, and it was captured in video by Pedro Miranda, who posted the footage on Friday.

Chumbo, a 24-year-old from Brazil who is one of the most prominent big-wave surfers in the world, rode a big wave and made a successful exit, leaving him in what is called the inside or the impact zone. His teammate, Ian Cosenza, had only a matter of seconds to reach Chumbo and ride to safety before a following wave of whitewater devoured them.

Amazingly, they were engulfed by whitewater but managed to ride to safety anyway.

“I’ve been filming Nazaré for many years, and during a jetski rescue there is one thing guaranteed: when the whitewater swallows a jetski, it’s game over, period,” Miranda told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors.

“Well, apparently not anymore. What Cosenza did was incredible; he stuck to it and managed to do something we all thought was impossible, especially because of all the bumps and turbulence inside the foam ball. It took a great deal of experience and for sure some luck to pull off this stunt.”

Miranda told For The Win Outdoors “the consequences could’ve been very dramatic, as both of them could be hit by the jetski and knocked unconscious right in the worst place of Praia do Norte.”

Miranda said the surfer and his rescuing teammate “are redefining the concept of extreme watermen.”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Surfer Bethany Hamilton shares powerful message

In his description with the video, Miranda explained further, saying, “Cosenza has to go full speed and needs critical control to avoid the bumps in the water that can easily flip the jetski. Given this was a high-period swell, waves are faster than usual (reaching speeds of 60 mph) and eventually the monster wall of whitewater that is chasing them, end up swallowing the jetski and both surfers.

“When something like this happens it generally doesn’t end well, but incredibly and against all odds, Ian Cosenza saved the day, successfully riding the jetski out of the whitewater and putting them both out of harm’s way.”

Photos courtesy of Pedro Miranda.

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Stunning images from world’s best action sports photographers

The world’s best photographers in action and adventure sports met in Italy to celebrate the winners of the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2019.

The world’s best photographers in action and adventure sports assembled at the Museum of Mountain Photography in Italy on Wednesday to celebrate the winners of the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2019.

The images are nothing short of spectacular, leading off with the overall winner, France’s Ben Thouard, who captured an underwater shot of surfer Ace Buchan in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, in French Polynesia.

Photos courtesy of Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2019.

Ben Thouard of France: “Tahiti has some of the clearest water in the world so it was easy for me to take advantage of it and explore it as much as I could. This photo was shot during a free surf session right before the WCT event in Teahupo‘o. This is Ace Buchan kicking out from the barrel through the wave, a technique to escape a close-out wave.

“Luckily, I was right below, breathless with my water housing waiting for this moment and I was able to capture the whole sequence of it; this frame from the beginning of the sequence is the most powerful one because of the water around his face and body.”

Philip Platzer of Austria: “I took the photo for Red Bull during the V-Max Project at the Atacama Desert in Chile in 2016. The high-speed mountain biker Markus Stöckl tried to beat the world record in speed with a serial MTB – which was a success, he reached 167.6 km/h [104.2 mph]…

“To get the final result I had to do some extra work in PhotoShop: First of all I stitched the panorama, in the end it was made out of six single shots. After this I had to add the sequence, which was quite an issue because of the stitching. Everything was slightly distorted and it took some time to fit the 44 shots of Max back into the scenery.”

Kamil Sustiak of Australia: “We arrived to the line surrounded by fog so thick that we could almost not see each other. An hour passed and we could only sense the sunrise that was supposed to make this morning so special.

“I was ready to bail when all of a sudden the fog dropped just a tiny bit down into the valley and showed us what was actually going on around us. This spectacular scenery lasted for about an hour before the clouds underneath us disappeared and the world turned normal again.”

Philip Platzer of Austria: “Together with the Red Bull Skydive Team, I did this crazy Project called “Megaswing“ back in 2016. After my assignment I already knew this had to be a tricky one: Two Hot Air Balloons, one with a long rope attached and the other one to jump out with the swing, and of course the Skydiver with his parachute.

“After the first couple of jumps I realized that I wouldn’t get the perfect shot by simply shooting from the inside of the basket they were jumping out of. Lucky me, I had my monopod in the car as well as a pair of radio-triggers. My solution to get the right angle was to hold the camera, that I had attached to my monopod, as deep under the basket and just hope to get the perfect framing.

“In the end it was the very last try which gave us the money shot.”

Noah Wetzel of the U.S.: “After weeks of preparation and creative conception, I loaded my Subaru and headed north to Wyoming for the Total Solar Eclipse in August of 2017. Arriving a couple days before the eclipse, I linked up with athletes Chris Brule, Evan Grott, and Blake Sommer. The imagery goal was to capture the Eclipse and showcase mountain biking utilizing an in-camera double exposure – a very complex process.”

Lorenz Holder of Germany: “The Ouse Valley Viaduct is pretty cool old railway bridge in the South of England. When you approach it from the side, you can‘t really see the secret this bridge has to offer, but once you get underneath of one of the arches you can‘t believe your eyes. You are caught in a place that could easily be in the movie ‘Inception.’ The arches create a very surreal visual effect – when you are taking a picture, you don‘t understand if you are looking down into something or at least you get very confused about what you‘re actually seeing. I was blown away by this fact, but also blown away that this looked like a pretty good spot for skateboarding.”

Lorenz Holder of Germany: “The first time I saw this location was when I was watching ‘Game of Thrones’ and I was blown away by the pure magic this road generated in me. First, I thought that it‘s of course a CGI composition, but after a little research I found out that this place is actually real and located in Northern Ireland. A year later I was actually standing there with Senad Grosic and trying to get a bunny-hop-tailwhip on camera.”

Alexander Wick of Germany: “Together with my boys Phil and Chris I went on a U.S. West Coast climbing trip. Obviously Yosemite is a must and so we tested our very humble European crack climbing skills right away on El Capitan‘s Salathé Wall. A climb I‘ve been dreaming of for quite a while.”

Laurence Crossman-Emms of the U.K.: “Blaenau Ffestiniog was once described as the wettest place in Wales, this is no lie. Even when the sun shines, the puddles are plentiful. I’ve always been attracted to their animations when struck by a bicycle at full steep, the tires of Katy Winton making the perfect parting of this muddy sea.”

Jean-Baptiste Liautard of France: “Two things that I love when it comes to photography are silhouettes and reflections and I wanted to use both in a single frame for a long time. After a lot of drawings, I knew what I wanted but it took me six months to get the perfect conditions and final ideas.

”Jeremy‘s trail is a piece of art and this jump is definitely a highlight.”

Denis Klero of Russia: “Last year‘s trend reports have shown that as soon as the first snow starts falling the social media community bursts in excitement and instantly shares videos and photos showing the first flakes of the year. I didn‘t want to miss out on the trend and started working on a concept to show the change of seasons.

“To attract the attention of the social media world it had to be something that would make one stop and stare. Consequently, I developed an idea of a series of three main pictures with some supporting detail shots, which had to be visually strong and inherent to the world of Red Bull. This picture with Pavel is one of those.”

Baptiste Fauchille of France: “This photo was taken at the bowl of Fillinges. I remember the heat was insane like it rarely had been in the Alps. When I arrived on the spot the first thought I had in mind was to make a top-shot video with the drone: a fixed plan with a rider who makes his line with the intention of creating a loop. Then I realized that the bowl was really clean: no tags, no dust. I was able to have the rider and his shadow to come out well. I asked Alex Bibollet — one of the riders — to do what he did best, and I immortalized this moment!”

Also on FTW Outdoors:

Surfer Bethany Hamilton shares powerful message

Fisherman faces prison, fine for cruel act on rare fish

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Great white shark breach catches scientist by surprise

A Massachusetts scientist has discovered that it pays to be quick on your feet while trying to capture footage of great white sharks.

A Massachusetts marine biologist has discovered, for the second time in as many years, that it pays to be quick on your feet while trying to capture footage of great white sharks with a pole-cam.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ncQ1S4jxs]

The accompanying footage, released Tuesday by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, shows a 9-foot white shark breaching directly beneath Greg Skomal as he stands on the pulpit of a research vessel off Cape Cod.

Skomal jumps and shuffles his feet in a startled attempt to distance himself from the shark, which was ultimately tagged as part of an ongoing scientific effort by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

Great white shark breaches at feet of Greg Skomal. Photo: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

The footage, captured Nov. 11, shows the primary breach from both sides of the vessel and somebody, perhaps Skomal, can be heard shouting, “Jesus Christ!”

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy stated on Facebook:

“While encounters like this one are rare, this video shows that they can occur. White sharks are wild and unpredictable animals. This is a good reminder of the importance of following safety tips and always staying vigilant when in or on the water.”

Greg Skomal moments before 2018 close encounter. Photo: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

That’s the same statement issued in June 2018, when a large white shark breached directly beneath Skomal, who exclaimed moments afterward, “Did you see that? Did you see that? It came right up and opened its mouth right at my feet!”

Skomal, who works for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and fellow researchers have tagged more than 50 white sharks this season as part of a longterm behavioral study, according to the Cape Cod Times.

–Video and images are courtesy of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy