Stay with this ... it has a tie-in with paddling. An AP story in this morning's Seattle PI (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/141208_whales25.html)details a theory put forth by ocean researchers which accounts for the dramatic decline in pinniped populations (seals, sea lions) and sea otters in the Northern Pacific. The culprit? Whaling in the 1949 - 1969 period, which decimated killer whales' first choice food supply. At some 240,000 Calories a day, researchers calculate it would only take a few orcas shifting their appetites to cause the devastation seen, which had formerly been attributed to overfishing of the stocks pinnipeds ate, among other factors. They figure the progression was from whales to seals to sea lions to sea otters, as orcas sought to fill their Calorie quotas. Sea otters are not much more than a small blip in that quota. Are humans next? We __are__ pretty juicy and tender! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Better link: http://www.seaweb.org/PNAS2003/pnas.release.html Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Kruger" <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> > > Are humans next? We __are__ pretty juicy and tender! Da Dumm--Da Dumm *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Steve n' Dave said: > >Are humans next? We __are__ pretty juicy and tender!<< >Da Dumm--Da Dumm< That's why I sleep in a synthetic bag...'cause I'm less yummy to those bad Orca for whom quickly slithering up the beach to munch on pray is their modus operandi (well, along Patagonia, anyway -- poor little Penguins). Anyway, down feathers being more natural and Goose-like, I'm less likely to run afoul of Killer Whales, you know. For a great issue on Orca and environmental issues with "Orca Pass", see the latest Wave Length magazine issue: http://www.wavelengthmagazine.com/downloadpdf.php I wrote a piece on some Orca encounters last May while visiting Jolie. Doug Lloyd (synthetic bags all the way man, the only way) Victoria BC *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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