Tag: rare encounter

California photographer swims with giant, alien-like sea creature

Mark Girardeau recalls jumping in with a 400-pound Mola mola, a.k.a. ocean sunfish, during an expedition out of Newport Beach.

Mola mola sightings are special because the massive sunfish, aside from being docile giants, are so peculiar-looking.

Their bodies are flat and appear to be missing their rear ends. With huge eyes and tiny mouths, they roam the currents looking clumsy and alien-like, but strangely beautiful.

But because Mola molas inhabit pelagic waters miles from shore, the vast majority of sightings occur from boats.

On Friday, however, a Southern California photographer shared an image of him in the water alongside a Mola mola he estimated to weigh 400 pounds.

A small fry if you consider that the Mola mola, the largest bony fish in the world, can weigh up to 5,000 pounds. But still impressive, and for Mark Girardeau an encounter he’ll always treasure.

“From the surface, you mostly just see the upper fin sticking above the water but once you jump in when the water is clear, it’s just the craziest experience!” Girardeau told FTW Outdoors. “The water was still and the ocean was a deep-blue color that day so you could just swim right over to this massive fish and it was fine with it.”

Mark Girardeau swims with Mola mola, or ocean sunfish. Photos: ©Delaney Trowbridge

The encounter occurred last summer between Newport Beach and San Clemente Island, in water more than 3,000 feet deep.

Girardeau stated Friday on Instagram: “I don’t post many photos of myself so here it is the real me (on the left)! Thanks to [Delaney Trowbridge] and her underwater housing for capturing this moment in time.”

Girardeau and Trowbridge were part of a Pacific Offshore Expeditions expedition.

Trowbridge is a captain and, like Girardeau, a talented photographer. Her Facebook post on June 30 showed the same Mola mola with a pilot fish escort.

Trowbridge described the encounter as “ dream come true… coming face to face with one of the strangest fish on Earth!”

She added: “ It wasn’t difficult at all to jump into 3,000 feet of open water to swim alongside this beautiful Mola mola.

“Accompanying this gentle giant was a lone pilotfish, a very rare species for Southern California, more often encountered in tropical waters. I can’t blame the little guy for visiting us though, it sure felt like we were swimming in Hawaii!”

‘Croczilla’ surfaces in Florida, allowing for bucket-list encounter

A Florida photographer has been sharing jaw-dropping footage of a 14-foot American crocodile nicknamed “Croczilla” because of its size and menacing appearance.

A Florida photographer has been sharing jaw-dropping footage of a 14-foot American crocodile nicknamed “Croczilla” because of its size and menacing appearance.

Kymberly Clark encountered the colossal beast recently in Everglades National Park. She states via Instagram that ‘Croczilla’ is believed to be the largest American crocodile in the 1.5-million-acre park.

Crocodiles are shy and reclusive and reside mostly in brackish or saltwater ponds, creeks and mangrove swamps, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

But Clark’s posts show ‘Croczilla’ sunning on a grassy bank, opening and closing its massive jaws and revealing enormous teeth.

“Although Crocs are native to America, this estimated 14-foot+ Crocodile is about the largest Croc found in the wild,” Clark states in her initial post. “In comparison to alligators, crocodiles have a more narrow snout, are lighter in color, and both upper and lower sets of teeth can be seen.”

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Clark adds: “Although this crocodile looks fierce, the American Crocodiles are very timid. The open mouth is not a sign of aggression but usually a way of regulating body temperature or a yawn. That being said, always keep a safe distance from crocodiles and other wildlife.”

Subsequent posts show Croczilla in various poses on the same bank. One  reveals “That ‘I survived Monday’ look!” A video post shows Clark superimposed in the footage with the description: “When I saw this guy, I am not sure who opened their mouth wider. Croczilla or me?”

Another post, put to horror music, shows Croczilla stretched in the sun, revealing its size. Yet another post shows kayakers admiring Croczilla under the description: “Only in Florida.”

According to the FWC, the American Crocodile was listed as an endangered species in 1975. Their numbers have since increased from a few hundred animals to about 2,000 individuals.

The Florida population of American crocodiles is currently listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The FWC states in a website publication: “ Due to the American crocodile’s shy and reclusive nature, conflicts between them and people are extremely rare in Florida. However, as with any predatory animal, people should use caution when near them.”

–Image courtesy of Kymberly Clark

Yellowstone guide captures intriguing moment shared by cougar, elk

A tour guide in Yellowstone National Park on Monday captured a rare scene showing a mountain lion and bull elk coexisting peacefully within a small space.

A tour guide in Yellowstone National Park on Monday captured rare footage showing a mountain lion and bull elk coexisting within a small space.

Andrea Baratte, a guide for Yellowstone Adventure Tours, stated via Instagram that he was “still speechless” after the encounter.

Baratte explained that the mountain lion, or cougar, was sleepy after feasting on a bighorn sheep carcass since at least the day before.

The guide added: “The mountain lion had a full belly and was napping as this bull elk approached. Both were aware of each other. The cat never showed any interest.”

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Mountain lion sightings are extremely rare in Yellowstone National Park, which boasts a population of about 40 animals spread across the northern range.

According to the park, mountain lions prey largely on mule deer and elk, along with smaller mammals such as marmots. Bears and wolves, the park added, often displace mountain lions from their kills.

Lonely Yellowstone wolf cries out during rare close encounter

A Yellowstone National Park tourist enjoyed a rare encounter last week involving a lone wolf that paused on the road to howl as he drove past the animal.

A Yellowstone National Park tourist enjoyed a rare encounter last week involving a wolf that howled plaintively from the road as he drove past the iconic predator.

Justin Byerly’s footage, posted below, shows the dark-colored gray wolf trotting in the same direction on the other side of the road, and pausing to issue a skyward howl.

Byerly, of Woodlife Photography, told For The Win Outdoors that he encountered the wolf between Norris and Mammoth at about 2:30 p.m. That in itself is somewhat rare, given that wolves are most active at dawn and dusk.

Byerly did not see other wolves. “However, I believe it was calling to his other pack members to give his location,” he said.

The wolf is collared so it’s known to park biologists. Byerly believes the wolf belongs to the Wapiti Lake Pack.

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He said he drove past the wolf to a pullout so he could watch it catch up as he was parked (see accompanying images). Byerly then left to explore the park.

A friend later told him that the wolf stayed on the road until a caravan of about 10 vehicles followed, then it vanished into the woods.

Justin Byerly/Woodlife Photography

Yellowstone’s wolves are most commonly spotted in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley, and sightings typically involve distant animals. Close encounters involving lone wolves crying out for company are extremely rare.

Last Christmas Day, a different photographer captured footage showing a solo wolf howling into a snowy wilderness during a dawn encounter. That wolf also was said to belong to the Wapiti Lake Pack.

In December 2021, Yellowstone estimated the number of wolves living inside the park at 95 individuals – a 23% decline from 2020. The decline was due largely to relaxed hunting regulations outside the park, primarily in Montana. (Yellowstone wolves can be legally shot by hunters if they venture beyond park boundaries.)

In February 2022, toward the end of hunting season, the park estimated the number of Yellowstone wolves to number 90 individuals.

Watch: Orcas dazzle boaters during ‘magical’ rare encounter

A whale-watching charter out of San Diego on Tuesday spent “five magical hours” with orcas that surfed, leaped, and even swam upside down within feet of passengers and crew.

A whale-watching charter out of San Diego on Tuesday spent “five magical hours” with orcas that surfed, leaped, and even swam upside down within feet of passengers and crew.

The extraordinary footage, captured by Gone Whale Watching San Diego, shows Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales, or orcas, clearly interacting with those aboard the 27-foot Boston Whaler.

“All in all this was one of the best trips in our company’s history,” Domenic Biagini, owner of Gone Whale Watching San Diego, wrote on Facebook.

Acting on a tip from a sportfishing captain, Biagini traveled 80 miles south of San Diego, into Mexican waters, in search of the ETP killer whales.

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He first located beaked whales, and footage of that rare encounter is forthcoming. Biagini and crew spotted the orcas on the way back up the coast, about 50 miles south of San Diego.

ETP orcas, which are spotted sporadically off Mexico and in the Sea of Cortez, are famously inquisitive around boats and have been known to surf in their wakes.

Biagini’s passengers were treated to this behavior but also observed the grace and beauty of the mammals as they slowly swam beneath and next to the boat, at times completely upside down.

Passengers also witnessed a predation event (the jumping portion of the video) involving a common dolphin that ultimately became an orca snack.

 

“The orcas toyed with this common dolphin for nearly 90 minutes before finally completing the kill and sharing in a meal,” Biagini explained on Facebook.  “It very well may have been a teaching moment for the youngsters in this pod. They’ll have to complete hunts themselves one day!”

The footage was captured by Biagini, Kyle Henderson, and Alyson Moors.

Biagini assured that his engines were not running during the orcas’ close approaches, and that the orcas were “play-chasing us,” and not the other way around, when the boat was in motion.

Rare otter attack injures Montana boy floating on inner tube

A 12-year-old Montana boy was attacked by an otter as he and a friend floated down the Big Hole River on inner tubes.

A 12-year-old Montana boy was attacked by an otter Friday as he and a friend floated down the Big Hole River on inner tubes.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated in a news release issued Monday that the boy did not suffer life-threatening injuries during the rare attack.

The two boys were on a section of river west of Divide, upstream from the Powerhouse Fishing Access Site, when they spotted several otters in front of them.

One otter approached and attacked the boy before two adults who were camping nearby rushed to his rescue.

“Fortunately, the boy was able to receive prompt treatment for injuries that were not life threatening. The other boy was not injured,” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated.

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Otter attacks on humans are rare, but the animals can be tenacious while defending their young or their territory against potential threats.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks explained that otters typically give birth in April and can stay with their young through the summer.

Low water level caused by drought might also have played a role in shrinking the otters’ territory and preventing the boys from maintaining a safer distance.

Signs have been posted along the river cautioning visitors about the incident.

–River otter image is generic

Boaters swim with giant basking sharks during rare encounter

A Southern California whale-watching operator has captured rare footage showing enormous basking sharks feeding with fin whales 55 miles beyond San Diego.

A Southern California whale-watching operator has captured rare footage showing enormous basking sharks feeding with fin whales 55 miles beyond San Diego.

The footage captured during a crew trip on Wednesday briefly shows Domenic Biagini, owner of Gone Whale Watching San Diego, swimming alongside one of the harmless sharks.

“It was surreal,” he told For The Win Outdoors. “You can know it’s a big animal, but you don’t realize just how big it really is until you’re swimming next to it.”

Basking sharks are the second-largest sharks, next to whale sharks, and can measure nearly 40 feet. Fin whales are the second in size to blue whales, the largest animals on the planet, and can measure 80-plus feet.

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Both species are filter feeders and on Wednesday both gorged on a vast bloom of shrimp-like krill southwest of San Diego.

Basking shark feeds on krill. Credit: Domenic Biagini

Biagini said three basking sharks shared a large area with perhaps 30 fin whales – an unusually large gathering of fin whales – and his crew captured footage from various angles.

At 3:27 a fin whale and basking shark can be seen swimming toward one another and the whale veers to avoid a possible collision.

Basking sharks, known to “bask” near the surface, were overfished decades ago and have not recovered.

Basking shark off the stern. Credit: Domenic Biagini

Limited data suggest that populations remain below historic levels, according to a research paper published by Frontiers in Marine Science in 2018.

Sightings off California are rare but “if they do show we expect them in the spring and summer and then to depart in the fall,” Heidi Dewar, a senior researcher at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center and one of the paper’s primary authors, told For The Win Outdoors. “It’s nice to see that there are still a few out there.”

Basking shark (top) swims toward fin whale. Credit: Domenic Biagini

A tagging study conducted from 2010 to 2011 suggested that, nearshore, basking sharks migrate north in the summer and “prefer shelf and slope habitat around San Diego, Point Conception and Monterey Bay.”

Two of four tagged sharks left the coast in the summer and fall. By January, one had traveled to Baja California’s tip and another had traveled west, almost to Hawaii.

Offshore, both spent considerable time in very deep water.

Fin whale gorges on krill. Credit: Domenic Biagini

Basking sharks are impressive because of their size but also the manner by which they feed, with enormous mouths agape as they swim through and consume plankton.

Stated Biagini on Facebook: “Since the crew had dive gear on board for our special project, we quickly slipped in the water to join these gentle sharks as they peacefully glided through the krill with mouths open!

“A truly once-in-a-lifetime moment as basking sharks have become almost completely absent from waters around San Diego in the last decade, and are almost never seen in water this blue!”

Rare sighting involves dolphin eating an octopus; no easy meal

A research team from Portugal on Wednesday watched in amazement as a Risso’s dolphin emerged with an octopus in its mouth.

A research team from Portugal on Wednesday watched in amazement as a Risso’s dolphin emerged with an octopus in its mouth (top photo).

“Sightings like this are very rare so everyone aboard in Ketos were very excited!” the group, AIMM, wrote on Facebook. “It was a good day for AIMM researchers and interns.”

While dolphins will attack an octopus, the feeding events are rarely witnessed. When they are witnessed, at the surface, it’s sometimes because the dolphins are experiencing issues with their clever and sticky adversaries.

Bottlenose dolphin with ‘naughty octopus.’ Photo: Joan Gonzalvo/Ionian Dolphin Project

The AIMM sighting brings to mind an event documented off Greece in 2012, involving a bottlenose dolphin that was jumping with an octopus clinging to its belly – more precisely, its private region.

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Joan Gonzalvo, a researcher with the Ionian Dolphin Project, used the term “naughty octopus” in a blog post describing the encounter. The dolphin eventually shook off – and presumably devoured – the pesky octopus.

Grandma the river dolphin. Photos: Jodie Lowe/Port Macquarie Cruise Adventures

In 2017 in Australia, photographer Jodie Lowe of Port Macquarie Cruise Adventures captured images showing a dolphin leaping from the Hastings River with an octopus clinging to its belly.

The company wrote on Facebook: “Awesome encounter with our local river dolphins on our National Park Eco Cruise today. We got to witness one of our local river dolphins, Grandma, with an octopus stuck to her and she was getting into midair trying to take it off.

“In the end she got it off and ate it.”

At the time, Grandma, matriarch of the Hastings River pod, was estimated to be 25-30 years old.

–Risso’s dolphin image atop this Post is courtesy of Michal Topczewski/AIMM