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An adult harbor seal has died after an attack from what expe...

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COMMENT 318832P	2012-09-11 11:05 PM
While the contest between shark & seal has been going on for a very long time, the media seems to have just noticed.
COMMENT 318857	2012-09-12 07:22 AM
just glad it wasn't a surfer. although I guess there would need to be surf for there to be surfers in the water, which, of course, Santa Barbara has none. who's with me to blow up those pesky islands?
COMMENT 318866	2012-09-12 07:41 AM
The media has also been silent about the fact that the do-gooders are cultivating and protecting more and more seals, sea lions etc. in the area. Simple math! More seals=more sharks. So swimmers, kayakers, boaters et.al. beware. What is good for the seals may not be so good for You!!
COMMENT 318875	2012-09-12 08:03 AM
866, it has nothing to do with the seal rookery and the bolster in seal population. If so, we'd have seen this in past years. Truth is (if you're interested in actual truth), this does happen all the time. The tides sometimes wash up uneaten parts, which is happening now and it makes it seem like there are more attacks than normal, but if you look at real sighting and migration data from back before the rookery was "supported" by locals, it's pretty much about the same, with ebbs and flows. Also, please consider sightings and news reports are always up after shark week airs on tv. As is the case now. Surfers and boaters always need to be aware of the dangers of being in the water...from the tide and the sharks and a number of other safety hazards. But don't make this into a seals vs us situation, please. It's irresponsible and ill-informed.
COMMENT 318878	2012-09-12 08:07 AM
Did the shark have neck tats?
COMMENT 318882	2012-09-12 08:21 AM
I love the line stating that "no swimmers were hurt." Ahhh, KEYT trying to make news where no news exists. Well done.
COMMENT 318935	2012-09-12 10:23 AM
Circle Of Life :)
COMMENT 318975	2012-09-12 12:30 PM
There never seems to be signs posted after a 22 foot great white swallows a seal whole and leaves no evidence behind.
COMMENT 318991	2012-09-12 01:02 PM
Sharks happen - it's not like you can tell them they can't be close to the shores. They are the rebel of the seas after all.
COMMENT 319069	2012-09-12 03:28 PM
It will make the Carp Triathlon in a few weeks all the more exciting!
COMMENT 319102	2012-09-12 04:29 PM
875 ABSOLUTELY DOES! I’ve heard of 5x recently where injured sea lions have been captured, often minutes post attack, & the animal is put down/thrown away! The GWS feeding cycle is they hit an animal, wait for it to bleed out, then eat after its no longer moving, ie, a danger to the GWS sensitive nose/eyes. They SHOULDNOT be rescued! They're PART of the food web & tho cuter than sharks shouldn’t be given aid unless hurt by humans. Many unintended consequences of removing those animals. Many animals DEPEND on feeding on those carcasses, even when they are on the beach. STOP REMOVING GWS FOODSOURCE! Not allowing them to eat, causes them to injure more seals, stay in area due to INCREDIBLE pinniped # increase & not able to feed, then move on their journey up coast after pupping in the socal bight. (continued)
FLICKA	2012-09-12 04:47 PM
102, How does a shark eat a seal that is on the beach? Shouldn't be removed or rescued from the sand? I grew up here, have always lived by the beach; there were always PLENTY of seals, never heard of a Great White in the 40s, 50s, 60s or even 70s.
COMMENT 319102	2012-09-12 05:29 PM
FLICKA - My point exactly. MANY more SEALS=MANY MORE GWS!!! Seals that have been hit, and not bled out, should NOT be rescued/removed. Once they are beached/dead, they should be left unless it is a populated area, or towed offshore or moved to an empty beach so the racoons, crows & other scavengers that depend on carcasses can eat. They ARE part of the food web! NOTHING goes to waste in the ocean! There are entire ecosystems that appear when a larger animal dies &sinks. Lobsters/crabs/ fish also feast on these carcasses. 875 - how can you state that a multi fold increase in population along with drastic reduction of incidental take - nearshore gillnets, and ban of legal take (harpoon, hook n line, net) NOT affect the population of GWS? Removing an injured seal - ie, the GWS food is ILLEGAL because it is harming an endangered species! (GWS) (PS surfing/diving/fishing in sb since '80) Had 2 encounters with GWS this summer, and only 1 other prior.
COMMENT 320484	2012-09-15 01:36 PM
oh yeah!

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