Pete Thomas Outdoors

Sierra Nevada red fox sighting first in Yosemite in nearly 100 years

By Pete Thomas/GrindTv

The first sightings of a Sierra Nevada red fox in nearly 100 years inside Yosemite National Park were confirmed Wednesday by park officials.

The furry critter was photographed as it roamed through snow in the northern portion of the California wilderness park twice by motion-sensitive trail-cameras: the first time in mid-December, and most recently on January 4.

Biologists discovered the footage during a recent backpacking expedition to check on the cameras.

The Sierra Nevada red fox is one of the rarest animals in North America, with a population of only about 50 animals, so any sighting is considered extraordinary.

Don Neubacher, park superintendent, said in a news release that his staff was “thrilled to hear about the sighting of one of the most rare and elusive animals in the Sierra Nevada.”

Sarah Stock, a park biologist, added: “Confirmation of the Sierra Nevada red fox in Yosemite National Park’s vast alpine wilderness provides an opportunity to join research partners in helping to protect this imperiled animal. We’re excited to work across our boundaries to join efforts with other researchers that will ultimately give these foxes the best chances at recovery.”

The animals are vulnerable to extinction because of their tiny population size. Among the many threats they've faced over the years include logging, off-road and snowmobile use, livestock grazing, competition from non-native fox species, and now climate change.

It could be that the population is much lower than 50.

Biologists from various agencies have been monitoring a tiny population of red foxes, first documented by the U.S. Forest Service in 2010, in wilderness north of the park.

Before that population was discovered, the last previous sighting was 20 years ago.

Yosemite said it will use strategically-placed trail cameras to try to obtain more sightings information, and will place “hair snare stations” in the hope of obtaining hair samples for genetic studies.

–Sierra Nevada red fox image is via Yosemite National Park trail-cam

Rare white dolphin thrills boaters in Monterey Bay

By Pete Thomas/GrindTv

Whale watchers in Monterey Bay, California, were thrilled Sunday to see a strikingly white Risso’s dolphin swimming with gray pod mates.

The extraordinary sighting was made by passengers and crew aboard a Monterey Bay Whale Watch vessel. The accompanying photos were provided by naturalist Melissa Galieti, who said the young dolphin was swimming with its mother and two other cow-calf pairs.

The crew was not able to determine whether the dolphin was a true albino, with pink eyes, or a partial albino (leucistic, with blue eyes), because “this little one kept coming to the surface with its eyes closed,” Galieti stated on the company Facebook page.

Its body outline in some of the photos, however, is tinged pink.

Galieti added via email: “It also exhibited some play behaviors, like pec-fin slapping and rolling. All the guests were excited to see something so stunning.”

It’s the same white dolphin that was spotted in Monterey Bay on August 28, so it seems to be familiar with the area, and passengers undoubtedly are being told to be on the lookout for a white dolphin.

Risso’s dolphins are large, blunt-nosed mammals that usually stay fairly far offshore.

Their normal color is dark gray, but their bodies typically feature many scratches or scars, which are believed to be caused by other Risso’s dolphins, squid (their favorite prey), or parasites.

Calves tend to be a lighter gray. White Risso’s dolphins, like white whales, are extremely rare.

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Gray whale megapods spotted off SoCal

Gray whale megapods highlight incredible SoCal voyage

By Pete Thomas/GrindTv

Passengers aboard a Southern California whale-watching boat on Sunday enjoyed a magical daylong excursion that included rare sightings of gray whale megapods, traveling south toward Baja California’s lagoons.

The first group contained more than 15 whales, swimming closely together. The pod, spotted at 10 a.m. between Dana Point and Santa Catalina Island, included at least three juveniles.

The second megapod, consisting of at least 12 gray whales, was spotted at 2:30 p.m., also in mid-channel, and was being harassed by Risso’s dolphins, which acted like cattle dogs guiding a herd. (This type of behavior, although not unprecedented, also is rarely observed.)

The sightings, made aboard the Ocean Adventures out of Dana Point, were chronicled by a group called the West Coast Whale Geeks, which chartered the Dana Wharf Whale Watching vessel for an 8-hour excursion that also featured sightings of bottnelose and common dolphins, and several other gray whales.

Photos, some of which accompany this story, reveal multiple blows and fluking; blows mixed with fluking, spy hopping, and other behavior. Aerial footage (posted above), captured via drone, shows the majesty and true size of the iconic cetaceans, which were once hunted to the brink of extinction.

“This is not a common thing,” said Alisa Schulman-Janiger, a researcher who also was on the trip. “In all my years on the water I’ve never been with two megapods in one day.”

About 20,000 gray whales annually complete the 6,000-mile trek from Arctic feeding grounds to Baja California, where they nurse and mate, before returning home for the summer feeding season.

Sightings in coastal waters usually involve one or two mammals, or perhaps two or three. It’s rare to see groups of 10 or more, because adult gray whales, when they do travel in groups, tend to swim on a more direct offshore route to Mexico.

But this has been a very unusual season, with an earlier migration and more whales than usual appearing to take more of a coastal route, said Schulman-Janiger, who runs the ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County.

Shore-based volunteers man a cliff-top promontory at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center from sunrise to sunset throughout the migration period, counting whales and logging their behavior.

Through Monday they had tallied 1,039 southbound gray whales, the fifth highest in the project’s 30-year-history.

“We’re seeing more large pods than we typically see, and up in Monterey they’re also reporting very large groups passing by,” Schulman-Janiger said. “We’re definitely seeing more this season. Maybe it’s just because they’re picking a route closer to shore.”

The southbound migration period is winding down, but sightings should continue for another week or two.

“We’re seeing more large pods than we typically see, and up in Monterey they’re also reporting very large groups passing by,” Schulman-Janiger said. “We’re seeing many more this season. They’re definitely early, and maybe also picking a route closer to shore.”

The southbound migration period is winding down, but sightings should continue for two or three more weeks.

–Images (top to bottom) are courtesy of @Alisa Schulman-Janiger, ©Carla Mitroff, ©Christina de la Fuente,  ©Alisa Schulman-Janiger, ©Alisa Schulman Janiger, ©Alisa Schulman-Janiger

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Risso's dolphins (circled) interact with migrating gray whales; video screen grab

By Pete Thomas

A large pod of migrating gray whales was videotaped interacting with Risso’s dolphins Sunday off Dana Point.

But it did not seem to be a voluntary union as far as the whales were concerned. They seemed agitated by the large, squid-eating dolphins, which were acting like sheep dogs guiding a cattle herd

 

This type of interaction, if it occurs fairly often, is rarely observed, just as so-called “megapods” of migrating gray whales are rarely observed off the California coast.

(The passengers, on an all-day trip with Dana Wharf Whale Watching, saw two megapods. I’ll have more on that in a separate post when aerial footage becomes available.)

But Risso’s dolphins, which can measure to about 12 feet, are known to harass other marine mammals, and have even been observed harassing killer whales.

This accompanying footage was captured by Bill Brown. We’ve shortened the clip to get right to the action, but viewers can watch his entire clip here.

Dolphins join SUP paddlers in magical surf session

 

By Pete Thomas/GrindTv

Sharing waves with strangers is not any surfer’s idea of a good time, unless the strangers happen to be dolphins.

Ryan Warrington and Kyle Tatam were surfing on standup boards recently at an unnamed destination when dolphins arrived and not only rode waves with the SUP paddlers, but seemed to enjoy their human company.

The feeling, undoubtedly, was mutual.

“One of the most surreal days we’ve ever had in the water,” Warrington states in a description beneath the video, which is enhanced with a bit of "Jamaican Tea," via the New Black Shades, and takes viewers on a brief voyage through an aquamarine realm with sleek and beautiful cetaceans as escorts.

To be sure, this footage is different than the many clips circulating on the Internet, showing SUP paddlers trying to get close to whales or, more recently, paddling briefly among killer whales.

This is a case where the dolphins wanted to be with the paddlers, and vice versa, and the result was a magical session, at what looks to be a secret spot, enjoyed by both parties.

Many people are bound to be envious.

 

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Whale strikes boat off Maui, as seen from below the surface

Earlier this month a humpback whale bumped into a boat full of whale watchers off Maui, before rejoining its calf and swimming off.

The event was videotaped from above and below the surface, via pole cam, and finally some of the underwater footage has become available, courtesy of Ultimate Whale Watch.

Its 25-foot inflatable boat was bumped, presumably inadvertently, by the mother whale as the vessel was drifting with its engine turned off. The calf swam toward the bow of the boat before the incident. Also, a male "escort" whale was nearby, perhaps agitating and confusing the mom.

The boat was said to be at a safe distance when the whale suddenly turned around and swam toward the boat. Passengers were told to get their cameras ready and apparently they captured some vivid footage.

In the accompanying video clip, via a passenger named Collette, the mother whale’s eye is visible just before she bumps the boat.

Shortly afterward, the mother and calf can be seen swimming away. The whale seemed to be OK after this unusual incident.

Ultimate Whale Watch has been criticized by some for turning off its engines, making it difficult for whales to know the boat is nearby, and for allowing passengers to lean over and peer into the water with masks.

Lee James, the company's owner, said Thursday via email:

"We are getting whales hanging around within a few feet and sometimes rubbing the boat almost daily.  I could not find any research or study showing that they are getting more comfortable with vessels, [but] it has been an observation that over the past two migrations that they have become less apprehensive and more interactive with our vessels."

–Images are video screen grabs

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Crazy day in Cabo San Lucas: two giant blue marlin battled into the night

By Pete Thomas/GrindTv

Cabo San Lucas is one of the world’s premier marlin-fishing destinations, but even so, it’s a rare day when two giant marlin are hooked on the same day, at about the same time, and battled well into the night.

On Tuesday, word rapidly spread through the Mexican resort town at Baja California’s tip that town that a large marlin–perhaps a grander weighing 1,000 pounds or more–was being fought aboard the yacht, Mucho Loco.

Tracy Ehrenberg, who runs Pisces Sportfishing, stated on the company blog that she received a call at 9 p.m., informing her that a large marlin was being weighed at the main scale in the marina.
She and her employees rushed over to discover that a marlin weighing 683 pounds was hanging on the scale. But part of its head and bill resting on the ground, so the actual weight was in the 700-pound range.

The 13-foot marlin had been hooked at 10:15 a.m.; the battle lasted nearly 10 hours. Presumably, the fish was too close to death to be released.

Kevin Lautt, from North Dakota, was one of the anglers, and is quoted as saying, “This is my first time in Cabo and my first time deep-sea fishing. The biggest fish I’ve ever caught is a 15-pound northern pike.”

But this marlin was caught aboard Bad Medicine, not Mucho Loco.

Ehrenberg figured that she had simply received incorrect boat information, but wondered why Mario Banaga, who is always on hand taking photographs when a big marlin arrives in the marina, was not present for the weigh-in.

It turned out that Banaga was at a different scale on the other side of the marina. Mucho Loco had pulled in with its blue marlin, which tipped the scale at 773 pounds.

Two men, aged 74 and 79 years, teamed to fight this marlin for 5-plus hours; a remarkable feat considering their ages.

Most marlin caught in Cabo are released; that practice is strongly encouraged. But for whatever reason, this marlin also was brought in.

Wrote Ehrenberg:

"There is always a tinge of sadness to see these magnificent creatures on the dock and not in the ocean, but this is great news for Cabo San Lucas, helping the town hold its position as one of the top fishing destinations in the world.

"A lot of families still being affected economically from [Hurricane Odile, which slammed Cabo in September] will have plenty of quality food for weeks to come and the anglers will have memories to last a lifetime."

It was a loco day at Land's End, to be sure.

–Image showing both blue marlin is courtesy of Pisces Sportfishing

SUP paddler realizes dream during killer whale encounter

 

By Pete Thomas/GrindTv

When a small pod of orcas visited Southern California waters recently, boaters relished the experience because these orcas are curious about people and made several close approaches.

But for Rich German, the encounter off Laguna Beach was much more intimate. German was aboard a standup paddleboard, and all that stood between him and the black-and-white predators was an oversized surfboard.

The paddler, who during the summer was criticized for being too aggressive in an attempt to stay with and videotape a blue whale, was realizing a dream as the orcas swam around and sometimes beneath him. (The accompanying footage was shortened to get right to German’s Orca experience, but the long version, which feature’s the paddler’s introduction, can be viewed here.)

Rich German's perspective; video screen grab

His footage has been featured by several regional and some national media outlets, and his Facebook page is loaded with compliments from friends.

Not everyone is gushing, however. Some people on whale-themed social media sites contend that German was pushing his luck. 

One of the orcas is nicknamed Bumper because he has been known to nudge against boats, and that’s the orca that can be seen passing beneath German’s paddleboard.

Had German been been knocked off his board–and all it would have taken was a nudge–who knows how these orcas would react?

“They might not have let him back on his board, even if they were just playing and didn’t mean to harm him,” said Alisa Schulman-Janiger, who runs the California Killer Whale project and has had several encounters with the same orcas. “These orcas are not used to being with people in the water.”

The researcher also dismissed German’s claim, in his video introduction, to have been trying to “raise awareness” about the plight of orcas by releasing his footage. “He was not raising any awareness,” Schulman-Janiger said. “A lot of people might feel he was doing this merely to get attention."

The orcas, or killer whales, are known as the CA51 family group. There are four in German's footage: Star, or CA51, is the mother. Bumper (CA51C) is an 11-year-old male; Orion (CA51B) is a 16-year-old male; and Comet (CA51D) is a 4-year-old female.

Their occasional forays into Southern California waters, from the north, are typically associated with the hunting of sea lions and dolphins.

Paddlers who do encounter the killer whales are advised not to paddle toward them, and to maintain low center of gravity of they are investigated, just to be on the safe side.

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Giant guitarfish catch could have shattered world record

Dean Reddy poses with recent giant guitarfish catch

By Pete Thomas/GrindTv

Dean Reddy recently reeled in a giant guitarfish estimated to weigh 89 kilograms, or 196 pounds, while fishing from shore in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.

It’s remarkable considering that the world record for this species, according to the International Game Fish Assn., is a 119-pound specimen caught in 1995 in Seychelles.

What’s more remarkable is that Reddy, prior to his latest catch, landed a giant guitarfish estimated to weigh 273 pounds.

Both catches shatter the world record weight even if Reddy–who uses a time-tested tape-measurement formula to attain an estimated weight before releasing his fish–was off by several pounds on his estimates.

“I’m not sure if they get bigger anywhere else in the world,” said Reddy, who tags and release all of the guitarfish he catches, and is affiliated with the South Africa’s Oceanographic Research Institute.

Reddy, who says the 273-pound giant guitarfish is recognized as the South African record, said he had never considered applying for an IGFA world record.

"But it does smash the world record by miles," he acknowledged.

Giant guitarfish sort of resemble sharks, but are members of the ray family. They range throughout the tropical Western Indian Ocean, from the Red Sea to South Africa, and are typically found in inshore waters or estuaries, where they feed on crabs, squid, and small fish.

They're listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, so it's admirable that Reddy tags and releases those that he catches.
He used a whole mackerel to bait the 196-pound guitarfish, which stripped off more than 2,000 feet of line during a two-hour battle on 50-pound-test braided line.

“They are pound for pound one of the strongest-fighting flat fish,” he said. “Great fun to target, but hard work.”

As for the world record, Reddy seemed to take an interest in learning more about how to apply. “I did have a witness and I’m pretty certain our organizations’ rules are similar to the IGFA’s,” he said.

But since the IGFA requires that a fish be weighed on a certified scale to qualify for the prestigious “all-tackle” category, Reddy most likely will have to wait until he catches another potential qualifier.

Massive hippo charges safari boat in Malawi, Africa

By Pete Thomas/GrindTv

Boaters on waterways in Malawi, Africa, face all sorts of potential hazards, but perhaps top among them are angry hippopotamuses.

The accompanying footage shows a large hippo closing in on a speedboat with an underwater charge so swift that the massive animal creates its own wake before breaking the surface.

The footage also shows the boat’s pilot powering forward and veering to avoid the charging critter. The video was posted to Facebook on Monday by Michael Varndell, managing director for Malawian Style - Safari and Adventure Holidays, with a brief description: “Nothing like getting too close for comfort….”

Varndell’s video was shared more than 4,000 times, and was also also posted to the company Facebook page. We've borrowed an embed code from ABC News.

The precise location of the hippo attack is not clear, but Varndell’s post was from an area near Dsoka, Malawi.

We sent an email asking for more details and will post them here if we get a response.