Pete Thomas Outdoors

Expedition captures rare footage of orcas attacking sperm whales; photographer 'summons courage' to dive overboard

Encountering a pod of killer whales engaged in a savage assault on sperm whales would generate the thrill of a lifetime for most maine mammal enthusiasts. But imagine the adrenaline rush produced by witnessing this raw spectacle from underwater.

Shawn Heinrichs did just that during a recent expedition off Sri Lanka. He and five others had been searching for eight days for blue whales, unsuccessfully. Then they spotted a commotion in the distance, and soon realized they were witnessing an event few others had seen or photographed.

When they got closer, and could hear the thrashing of whales and pounding of their tails, Heinrichs clutched his cameras and jumped overboard.

 

"We had no idea what was going to happen to him and we hoped for the best," said his brother, Brett. "When I saw he wasn’t eaten, I jumped in after him.”

To be sure, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Heinrich, a cinematographer and founder of Blue Sphere Media, made the most of it.

Though the underwater footage is compelling, some of the above-surface images illustrate the apparent anguish among the six or seven sperm whales under assault, in what was an attempt by the killer whales to separate a juvenile sperm whale from the pod.

(Killer whales are supreme predators and off California and Alaska are notorious for killing gray whale calves in this same manner: by separating calves from their mothers in what is typically a coordinated but drawn-out process.)

Heinrich was with Brett and four others when they spotted the commotion.

"As we drew closer it quickly came into focus," Heinrich states in his blog and in the video footage. "A huge dorsal fin cut the surface and changed into a logjam of rolling long dark shapes. Almost in unison we shouted, 'Orcas attacking sperm whales!' I had never heard of such a thing and certainly never imagined I would see it with my own eyes."

There seemed to be five killer whales, or orcas, versus perhaps six sperm whales, which were postured in a defensive position throughout a coordinated assault by much swifter mammals.

Heinrichs was first to jump in and wondered "if I would become easy prey for the most formidable predators in the ocean." (Killer whales have never been documented attacking a human in the wild.)

After settling at a comfortable depth, Heinrich noticed "a frothing, dark pile of shapes ahead of me."

The largest of the killer whales turned and approached this strange intruder.

"I had heard warnings before about the extreme dangers of swimming with transient orcas, especially when these apex predators are engaged in a hunt," Heinrichs wrote. "But in my heart I knew they were highly intelligent and evolved creatures who 'should' have no interest in hurting me."

It became too difficult to keep up with the action in the water so Heinrichs and the others climbed back aboard and followed with the boat as the killer whales ultimately claimed what they were after: the younger sperm whale.

"Dorsal fins sliced the surface on all sides, bodies rolled, and huge tails violently crashed down, as the sea turned to a frothing, churning mess," Heinrichs wrote.

If anyone was rooting for the sperm whales there was hope, as it was unclear to the crew whether the killer whales claimed the juvenlie sperm whale as their next meal.

“We observed the family of sperm whales regroup and charge eastward as the orcas briefly gave chase then peeled off. And then it was all over,” Heinrich concluded. “For me, this was without a doubt the most incredible encounter I had ever experienced in the oceans, and something I will never forget.”

--Pete Thomas

Humpback whale stranded on shoal rescued in La Paz Bay

 

A juvenile humpback whale that had become stranded in shallow water in La Paz Bay was rescued Sunday by authorities and citizens who used a rope and boats to pull the cetacean into deeper water.

According to Octavo Dia, the rescue effort lasted two-plus hours and the whale seemed to swim freely away despite the long and very dramatic ordeal.

(The accompanying Cabovision video shows part of the rescue effort, including the whale being pulled from the shoal. It does not show the whale swimming to freedom.)

"The effort followed the protocol for marine mammal rescue," Octavo Dia reported. "The struggle to save the whale lasted over two hours, but the successful results incited elated uproar in the concerned witnesses."

The whale had become stranded beyond El Coromuel Beach during low tide. El Coromuel is north of La Paz, which is the capital of Baja California Sur. Among those assisting in the rescue effort were members of a local stranding network.

Jonathan Roldan, who runs the Tailhunter International sportfishing business in La Paz, posted this statement along with four photos on its Facebook page:

"Hope you got to see this yesterday. It was incredible. About 30 pangas and launches out there trying to help this stranded whale right off the beach on one of the shoals. Folks were lined up in the streets with cameras and binoculars."

--Photo is courtesy of Octavo Dia

Killer whales attack pod of sperm whales off Sri Lanka (video)

 

Brett Heinrichs on Sunday uploaded rare video footage showing killer whales attacking a pod of sperm whales to get to one of its calves. (Video posted above; not for the squeamish.)

The footage was shot from a boat during a recent expedition off Sri Lanka, but some of of the crew jumped in during this dramatic predation event.

"Our hearts pounded as we watched the orcas tear into these sperm whales many times their size," said Shawn Heinrichs, Brett's brother and founder of Blue Sphere Media. "When I garnered the courage to jump into the water and join the frenzy, all eyes fixed on me, wondering if I would become easy prey for these formidable apex predators."

The underwater footage has not yet been released. Shawn Heinrichs, however, said he was approached by two male killer whales and captured several close passes.

Killer whales, or orcas, are merciless predators and when targeting whales they usually work as a team to separate a calf from its mother and, in this case, the rest of the pod.

Brett Heinrichs wrote in the comments section of his video:

"I believe the orcas killed the youngest calf. We saw six sperm whales upon arrival and five eventually left the scene. At one point we saw the youngest calf separated from the pod and being hammered by orcas."

--Pete Thomas

--Hat tip to Tim Zimmermann

Leopard seal videotaped getting frisky with sea kayak

Marine mammal enthusiasts will get a kick out of the accompanying footage, which shows a leopard seal cuddling against the smooth bottom of a yellow kayak near the Antarctic peninsula.  Exactly what the mammal's intentions were remain unclear and people can draw their own conclusions.

 

The footage was captured off Pleneau Island by Paul Scriver, who states in the video description: "He mostly swam around the kayaks and we would lose him when he was underwater.

"But then he started being quite playful and did the exact same thing shown in this video a few times before I calmed down enough to actually try to film him with my GoPro."

If you watch closely, the seal winks near the end of the footage.

Frisky little devil, isn't he?

Florida Everglades tour guide grapples with 10-foot python

A family on a boat tour of the Florida Everglades got an unexpected show Tuesday when their guide jumped into the water and began grappling with a 10-foot Burmese python.

Tommy Owen, a guide for Everglades Adventure Tours, was out with a boat of tourists when he saw the huge snake swimming through the water. His instincts took over, and Owen leapt into the water after it.

"They don't belong here and that was literally running through my mind," Owen told NBC affiliate WBBH-TV. "I launched on it, essentially ambushed it just like any other predator out here."

One thing Owen didn't perceive, however, was the size of his opponent.

"I didn't even realize it was 10 feet -- I thought it was definitely over 6 feet, definitely bigger than me. I didn't realize it was three times the size of my own arms."

Surprisingly, the group on the boat kept their cameras rolling, and caught the scuffle on video.

"After awhile it was just snake jujitsu -- we were just trying to battle it out -- he'd have one arm, I'd have the other," Owen said.

And he wasn't giving up the fight.

"I had to make sure I caught that one cause that's one less out there -- one less eating native species."

Burmese pythons are a non-native invasive species in Florida and have become a threat to native wildlife.

And those on the boat who were witness to the tussle? Owen believes they got a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"They'll never get a show like that ever again. That was the highlight of their life, or of their vacation for sure."

-- Kelly Burgess

Raccoon makes like a bandit, tightropes across power lines

Raccoons are famously clever and notoriously sneaky. How clever and sneaky?

Watch the video and you'll see a raccoon in a Toronto neighborhood tightrope-walking, on its hind legs, along a utility line.

 

To guard against falling, the bandit-masked critter holds onto a slightly higher line with its front paws and long fingers.

The footage was captured by a woman who describes the raccoon as "Very, very clever."

The bizarre episode even made Canada's CTV News on Tuesday, with the headline: "Raccoon Makes High-Wire Escape."

Clever and sneaky? No argument here.

Legal to collect raptors that have been killed by vehicles?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:

Question: What are the rules concerning the use of birds of prey, such as owls, which have been killed by vehicles? I have found several in the local area which seemed to be dead along the side of the road but without evidence of damage to the body. My guess based on where they fell is they are "indirect roadkills." If I wanted to save these animals for taxidermy or another use, would I need some kind of documentation? If so, what sort of permit would I need? It would be simple to document the finds I have made photographically at the site, but preserving them for inspection later by California Department of Fish and Wildlife would be harder. Thanks for your help with this. (Ken Z., Visalia)

Answer: Under both state and federal law, it is not legal to collect or possess any species of bird that is protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This would include all raptors that have been killed by vehicles. There are permits available, under very specific circumstances that allow scientific or educational facilities to salvage these birds. Organizations that believe they may qualify for these permits would be required to obtain both a federal Salvage Permit and state Scientific Collecting Permit. More information on these permits can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/research_permit/ and www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-10a.pdf.


Q: I have a California sport fishing license but did not pay for the second rod stamp. When I am out ocean fishing on my boat, am I only allowed one rod? I thought since it was the ocean I can have two rods out, even if I did not pay for a second rod stamp. (Anonymous)

A: The second rod stamp is only required when fishing in freshwater with two poles. In the ocean, any number of poles and lines generally can be used, with some exceptions. For example, fishing for lingcod, rockfish, greenlings or cabezon is limited to one line with no more than two hooks. Also, when fishing in San Francisco Bay or when fishing for salmon north of Pt. Conception, only one rod/line may be used per person.

Other exceptions exist, such as when pier fishing – only two methods may be used. There are only a few exceptions like these, but I’d recommend reviewing the Gear Restrictions section of the Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet and any regulations for the species you’re pursuing to ensure you’re following the law.


Q: I am interested in collecting some moon jellyfish just for my personal use but want to be sure it’s legal. They would not be sold or traded. If legal, can I collect them under a basic fishing license or would I be required to have a marine collector’s permit? (Tucker M.)

Deer stand on hind legs and box in rarely seen footage

 

It was hardly the fight of the century, but a sparring match between two deer in South Dakota might be considered entertaining and probably would have lasted much longer had the one deer not tumbled over the bleachers.

The footage was captured at Tomar Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the brief sparring match was explained by Keloland Television.

What's unique about this footage, an expert said, is that both deer are standing on their hind legs and jabbing with their front hooves. (Most deer brawls involve antler-to-antler combat, but these deer possessed no antlers.)

"What they're trying to do is establish dominance or hierarchy in the herd," said Julie DeJong, a biologist for the state Game, Fish and Parks department. "Things have changed over the winter time. Some animals that were dominant might have died, might have gotten hit by a car or shot in the hunt and so they need to be replaced, so the animals are working toward getting those things settled again."

It looks as though little was settled in this case, although the deer that stumbled might think twice about getting into another brawl anytime soon.

However, it was the other deer that limped off with an injured front leg.

Fight of the century?

Stated DeJong: "Most people don't get to see something like that very often and you don't find a lot of pictures of that either on the internet, so it was exciting to see."

--Hat tip to GrindTv

Young cougars believed to be OK after standoff with coyotes

Two juvenile mountain lion cubs are presumed to be OK after a tense standoff with five coyotes late Thursday at Wyoming's National Elk Refuge.

The confrontation was witnessed and photographed by Lori Iverson, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife employee. Images posted on the USFWS Flickr page and its Mountain-Prairie Facbook page have gone viral.

The young cats, after finding themselves in the company of unfriendly canines, sought safety by climbing a wooden fence. The encounter occurred at dusk and Iverson, an outdoor recreation planner, was on site only long enough to watch one of the cats scramble down the fence and scurry for cover.

The USFWS posted a description on Saturday: “The encounter ended with one of the mountain lions slowly making its way down the fence, occasionally dropping to the ground where it was met by lunges and yips by the coyotes. The mountain lion responded with hisses and yowls. Eventually, it ran across the creek on the fence and took off running with the five coyotes in pursuit.

"The second mountain lion was still hunkered down in the grass under the fence when the Outdoor Recreation Planner called it a night.”

The cougars were seen Friday, so they made it through their ordeal safely.

As for the whereabouts of their mother, the USFWS posted this statement Monday afternoon:

"The status of the mother is unclear. The juvenile cougars have been spotted several times, but they were never with an adult. This does not automatically mean they are orphaned. It is not uncommon for a female mountain lion to leave her cubs during the day and return to them at night."

If that's the case, what she doesn't know won't worry her.

--Note: A different version of this story was posted earlier Monday on GrindTv.com

Dolphin 'funeral procession' witnessed off Dana Point (video)

 

The waters off Dana Point on Tuesday were the scene of what one boater described as a dolphin funeral procession.

The accompanying footage shows a bottlenose dolphin, presumably a mother, carrying her dead calf on her back, while other dolphins followed close by. (Cetaceans have been known to tote dead offspring in what appears to be mourning behavior, but the phenomenon is rarely witnessed.)

The macabre episode revealed that not every mammal sighting is a cause for celebration, and that dolphins, like people, experience the loss of young and deal with that loss in ways that are both sad and touching.

The footage was provided by Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari (above) and Dana Wharf Whale Watch (below).

"I believe this calf has been dead for many days, possibly weeks," Capt. David Anderson states in his video description. "You can see the flesh is decaying. In my nearly twenty years on the water whale watching I have never seen this behavior. Nor have I ever seen anything quite as moving as this mother who refuses to let go of her poor calf."

Said Tony Green, a passenger aboard the Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari vessel: "The last thing I expected to see today was a funeral procession and it was a pretty profound statement about the emotions that those animals feel and how much … alike we are."