Last fall I was paddling in Trinidad Bay, coast of N California, as part of the paddle fest tours. We weren't really out in open water, hadn't even past the land mark I think they called mile rock when one of the other shouted "look at that!" Off near shore was splashing, I could see the white foam from the activity but not the cause. Someone with good distance vision said they were Risso's Dolphins. I made note of it and kept paddling since I couldn't see anything. I went off by myself, past the rock and out to one of the channel markers, turned and headed back in to rejoin the now very splintered group. Then I saw them, six of the creature heading straight at me. I was awestruck, man, this is better than Marine World. Then I realized they were having a great time, leaping out of the water, back in leap, and bearing down on me. I wondered if they were able to see me, I thought probably not and imagined what it would be like if one of them actually jumped over the kayak. Then I realized I had a pretty good chance of being hit as they did. I took the paddle and slapped the water, making a point to hit the boat with the shaft and made as much noise as possible. They changed their course and missed me, but they were close enough to see the whites of their eyes. Eventually my heart returned to normal. It was the last of the large pod that had come in close to shore that day. Fishermen who had been there all day said when they first saw the pod it was probably thirty strong and had spent a bit of time close to their boats. Mike San Rafael, CA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 3:36 PM, Mike Euritt <mike.euritt_at_gmail.com> wrote: > > It was the last of the large pod that had come in close to shore that day. > Fishermen who had been there all day said when they first saw the pod it > was > probably thirty strong and had spent a bit of time close to their boats. > > That's an amazing story, Mike. There was a harbor seal in the Anacortes area that liked to leap from the water onto the decks of local kayaks. The largest pod of dolphins I've ever seen was a group of spinners near Honduras in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. There must have been thousands of them as it took several minutes to go past them at 22kts. They're unique in that they spin in the air on every jump (hence the name: spinners). Every one of them, every time, spins. Really something to watch when there are thousands of them. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
likely you would have been fine regardless. I had a couple hundred dolphin heading right at a few of us (they turned from another course to check us out). They looked like a stampede of horses except splashing rather than a dust cloud. Many in close quarters passed within feet on either side of us but not one hit any boat. I wondered if they might hit us due to being blocked by their fellow dolphin. Anyway they seem to have very good sense of their size, etc. along with echo location and eyes so I suspect if they ever hit you they meant to. On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 3:36 PM, Mike Euritt <mike.euritt_at_gmail.com> wrote: > Last fall I was paddling in Trinidad Bay, coast of N California, as part of > the paddle fest tours. We weren't really out in open water, hadn't even > past > the land mark I think they called mile rock when one of the other shouted > "look at that!" Off near shore was splashing, I could see the white foam > from the activity but not the cause. Someone with good distance vision said > they were Risso's Dolphins. I made note of it and kept paddling since I > couldn't see anything. > I went off by myself, past the rock and out to one of the channel markers, > turned and headed back in to rejoin the now very splintered group. Then I > saw them, six of the creature heading straight at me. I was awestruck, man, > this is better than Marine World. Then I realized they were having a great > time, leaping out of the water, back in leap, and bearing down on me. I > wondered if they were able to see me, I thought probably not and imagined > what it would be like if one of them actually jumped over the kayak. Then I > realized I had a pretty good chance of being hit as they did. > > I took the paddle and slapped the water, making a point to hit the boat > with > the shaft and made as much noise as possible. They changed their course and > missed me, but they were close enough to see the whites of their eyes. > Eventually my heart returned to normal. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
A small cluster of cormorants took off low in the fog, staying low as they gained speed, coming toward me on a right angle. I just assumed they would see me, gain a few feet in altitude or veer to avoid me. Wrong. At about 6 feet from me, they lifted slightly. I half-ducked and sort of raised my paddle in defense...one clipped my paddle with enough force to send him spinning and tumbling and push me over into a high brace recovery. The cormorant in question floated, somewhat ruffled about 15 feet away. I think we both wagged our heads and headed in opposite directions, none the worse for the abrupt meeting. Better a cormorant than a raptor or a lobster boat, I'm thinking. -Will *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
John Clinton said on 22 July 2009 10:56 > dolphin.... so I suspect if they ever hit you they meant to. We paddle frequently with dolphins (and we do feel very privileged) and they are common enough along our coast that commercial outfits take tourists out with no-see = no-pay guarantees ;-) Most boating people are pretty good about marine mammal etiquette and keeping a minimum distance with a maximum number of boats to avoid stress, but there will always be a few cowboys. Last year, a woman on a smallish outboard boat (not a commercial one) was seriously hurt when a large male dolphin leapt onboard and crushed her. (She has recovered - as did the dolphin.) There was great journalistic uproar and effort, but nobody could trace a previous (local) example of a dolphin 'getting it wrong' or of one behaving in a deliberately aggressive manor. So the jury is still out on what caused the event: - male protection of threatened family - bad behaviour on the part of the dolphin - bad behaviour on the part of the boat skipper - plain accident by the dolphin - toxic algae triggered 'intoxication' In the final analysis, it is perhaps a minor cause of wonder that dolphins are so damn good at what they do. Best Regards Paul Hayward, Auckland, New Zealand -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of John Clinton Sent: Wednesday, 22 July 2009 10:56 To: Mike Euritt Cc: Paddlewise Paddlewise Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Being Run Down by Wildlife likely you would have been fine regardless. I had a couple hundred dolphin heading right at a few of us (they turned from another course to check us out). They looked like a stampede of horses except splashing rather than a dust cloud. Many in close quarters passed within feet on either side of us but not one hit any boat. I wondered if they might hit us due to being blocked by their fellow dolphin. Anyway they seem to have very good sense of their size, etc. along with echo location and eyes so I suspect if they ever hit you they meant to. On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 3:36 PM, Mike Euritt <mike.euritt_at_gmail.com> wrote: > Last fall I was paddling in Trinidad Bay, coast of N California, as part of > the paddle fest tours. We weren't really out in open water, hadn't even > past > the land mark I think they called mile rock when one of the other shouted > "look at that!" Off near shore was splashing, I could see the white foam > from the activity but not the cause. Someone with good distance vision said > they were Risso's Dolphins. I made note of it and kept paddling since I > couldn't see anything. > I went off by myself, past the rock and out to one of the channel markers, > turned and headed back in to rejoin the now very splintered group. Then I > saw them, six of the creature heading straight at me. I was awestruck, man, > this is better than Marine World. Then I realized they were having a great > time, leaping out of the water, back in leap, and bearing down on me. I > wondered if they were able to see me, I thought probably not and imagined > what it would be like if one of them actually jumped over the kayak. Then I > realized I had a pretty good chance of being hit as they did. > > I took the paddle and slapped the water, making a point to hit the boat > with > the shaft and made as much noise as possible. They changed their course and > missed me, but they were close enough to see the whites of their eyes. > Eventually my heart returned to normal. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Seems like a couple of years ago there was a woman that had a leaping eagle ray land on her. While not a totally pleasant experience, it's probably better to have an eagle ray drop into your lap than a polar bear. As I understand it, the difference between an eagle ray and a polar bear is that you can negotiate with an eagle ray. Brad Quoting Paul Hayward <pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz>: > John Clinton said on 22 July 2009 10:56 > >> dolphin.... so I suspect if they ever hit you they meant to. > > We paddle frequently with dolphins (and we do feel very privileged) and they > are common enough along our coast that commercial outfits take tourists out > with no-see = no-pay guarantees ;-) > > Most boating people are pretty good about marine mammal etiquette and > keeping a minimum distance with a maximum number of boats to avoid stress, > but there will always be a few cowboys. > > Last year, a woman on a smallish outboard boat (not a commercial one) was > seriously hurt when a large male dolphin leapt onboard and crushed her. (She > has recovered - as did the dolphin.) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bradford R. Crain wrote: > Seems like a couple of years ago there was a woman that had a > leaping eagle ray land on her. I know a guy that was fishing for salmon with a friend in a 19' skiff off the coast of California just north of San Francisco. A full grown sea lion jumped out of the water close to the boat a couple of times and on the third jump landed *in* the boat with them. It then proceeded to chase them around until it climbed up onto the rear transom and one of them body blocked it back into the ocean. They're best guess was that it was trying to get away from a great white. The were fishing in an area known as the Red Triangle, which runs along the coast from just north of Santa Cruz, Ca to Bodega Bay, with the point of the triangle at the Farallon Islands just outside the Golden Gate bridge. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
how about smaller, cuter company aboard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXTojoKpsQQ On Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 9:30 AM, John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu> wrote: > Bradford R. Crain wrote: > >> Seems like a couple of years ago there was a woman that had a >> leaping eagle ray land on her. >> > I know a guy that was fishing for salmon with a friend in a 19' skiff off > the coast of California just north of San Francisco. A full grown sea lion > jumped out of the water close to the boat a couple of times and on the third > jump landed *in* the boat with them. It then proceeded to chase them around > until it climbed up onto the rear transom and one of them body blocked it > back into the ocean. They're best guess was that it was trying to get away > from a great white. The were fishing in an area known as the Red Triangle, > which runs along the coast from just north of Santa Cruz, Ca to Bodega Bay, > with the point of the triangle at the Farallon Islands just outside the > Golden Gate bridge. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Sorry about that previous link, I have no idea what happened http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwqbqZ3L60 this one is correct *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Leaping carp...no kidding. A number of motor boat occupants have been injured on the Illinois River. I'm sure there is YouTube of them...I've seen videos where passing boats spur dozens to leap out of the water at once. I think for kayakers it would be like swatting some of mosquitoes in Lake of The Woods or northern Maine... http://www.impactlab.com/2006/02/22/scientists-fear-leaping-carp-invasion/ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Just remembered my friend Marvine who was paddling the Texas Water Safari (240 mile sprint) with 2 or 3 sisters in a long canoe. An alligator gar was attracted to he headlamp during the night and t-boned her in the ribs, breaking a few. She didn't paddle much the rest of the race. Steve -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA http://www.savvypaddler.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
[Please remove all old content that is not pertinent to your reply including old headers and footers. It's list policy.... this post was modified to meet policy] Has anyone been run down by a moose? In some areas, its common to come around a river bend to see a moose chomping on lillies. Usually they just casually wander back into the bush. Are there any cases where these MOOSE have become violent? Derek *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Derek wrote: > > Has anyone been run down by a moose? > > In some areas, its common to come around a river bend to see a moose chomping on lillies. Usually they just casually wander back into the bush. Are there any cases where these MOOSE have become violent? > > Derek Moose *can* be aggressive. As with most animals, the mating season is when it is best to leave a wide margin between you and any moose you encounter. They're fast and agile. And really BIG! I've seen a video -- somewhere -- of a moose and a man playing ring-around-the-rosie, with the moose chasing the man around a large tree. Too large to climb. Eventually the moose tired of the game and wandered off. I've never heard of a moose chasing a canoe or kayak though. With their long legs, hitting a moose in a car is NOT recommended either. The legs lift the bulk of their body up high enough to clear the hood of most cars and vans; you'll find yourself wearing a chestfull of moose before you know it. It may be the *last* thing you know too. -- Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
That made a widow of one of my friends. -----Original Message----- With their long legs, hitting a moose in a car is NOT recommended either. The legs lift the bulk of their body up high enough to clear the hood of most cars and vans; you'll find yourself wearing a chestfull of moose before you know it. It may be the *last* thing you know too. Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
One of my friends totaled a rental car in Alaska by coming over a rise and smacking into a moose. No human injuries, but I think the moose was in his last car wreck. Brad Quoting Richard Culpeper <culpeper_at_tbaytel.net>: > That made a widow of one of my friends. > > -----Original Message----- > With their long legs, hitting a moose in a car is NOT recommended > either. The legs lift the bulk of their body up high enough to clear > the hood of most cars and vans; you'll find yourself wearing a > chestfull of moose before you know it. It may be the *last* thing you > know too. > > Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 9:52 PM, Derek <glamourpets_at_yahoo.com> wrote: > > In some areas, its common to come around a river bend to see a moose > chomping on lillies. Usually they just casually wander back into the bush. > Are there any cases where these MOOSE have become violent? > > Just east of Spokane, WA there is a lake in Idaho called Priest Lake. There are actually two lakes by that name... an lake upper (northern) and a lower lake connected by a relatively narrow waterway called the "thoroughfare". Thirty years ago the thoroughfare was only about 10 yards wide but now it's 50 years wide in most places because powerboaters who go through it have a difficult time understanding that "slow" doesn't just mean slower than 50mph and "no wake" doesn't mean "not much wake". But I digress... Every time I've paddled through the thoroughfare between upper and lower Priest Lake I've seen at least one moose kneecap deep in the water nonchalantly munching on delectable water goodies. Canoe, kayaks and powerboats (with their sound systems on loud) go by and I've never seen any of these moose do anything but watch the people as avidly as the people watch the moose. Even when it's a cow and calf. I'm sure they're somewhat used to people but they're still wild animals and show no inclination to get antsy with the boaters. Although I'd love to have them beat up a wakeboard boat once or twice. The northern Priest Lake has no cabins or structures and is a wonderful place to camp. Beware of grizzly bears if you go there (although I've never seen one). I'm betting you will see a moose, however. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** 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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