Great white shark lurking off Carpinteria attacks seals

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Posted on Tue, Mar. 14, 2006

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/14099334.htm

Great white shark lurking off Carpinteria attacks seals


Associated Press

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - The coastal hamlet boasting home to "the world's safest beach" is warning residents about a great white shark lurking offshore.

The shark is believed responsible for killing two seals in the Harbor Seal Sanctuary in separate attacks March 9. The killings were witnessed by visitors to the viewing area on the bluff above the sanctuary. One visitor also videotaped the shark swimming just offshore.

Shark warnings were posted on some Carpinteria beaches.

The Harbor Seal Sanctuary, where seals give birth to pups between October and May, is on a secluded stretch of beach in Santa Barbara County, about 85 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

The beach and waters adjacent to the sanctuary are already closed to the public during the birthing season.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Shark attacks seals. Doesn't that rank right there with "cat catches bird" and "sun rises in the east" on the low end of the "scale o' significant news"?

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Don't read it if you are not interested. If someone was planning on going to the 'world's safest beach' and there is a great white hanging out then they may be interested. Perhaps the lady who got killed last year swimming in Avila beach may dispute your commentary but she is dead. After all that shark was only looking for sea lions at the time.....oooops sorry about that. We were there timesharing around that time and it kept us out of certain areas.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

But if you posted something like, "Angels trade for David Ortiz to fill DH Spot" - that would get my attention!!

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Red,

I certainly understand your concerns, but as Steve said, the headline is about as lame as you can get. It really does rate right up there with 'Cat eats bird'

The form of the headline suggests that the paper was more concerned about the risk of scaring off tourists than about putting out a valid safety message. Surely a headline along the lines of "Great White believed to be off Carpinteria. Warning to locals" would have more impact.

Smacks of the mayor's reaction to the original shark attack in 'Jaws'.

[CaliDave Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close CaliDave]

The meat of the headline is
Great white shark lurking off Carpinteria

Maybe you have great whites hanging around your shores.. but its not common in California.. especially at a particular beach where they promote safety in the water.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Sure it is humorous but I posted the headline....I didn't make it up...that was the decision of the San Jose Mercury news. I also thought it was funny that they call themselves the 'world's safest beach' and they have great whites hanging around. I guess it is a matter of perspective.

And I would love to have Big Papi in the line-up but it would depend on who we would trade.......I am not really that keen on Manny unless we can get him for a reasonable price/players....it may still happen but the Bosox want too much.

[Barbeque Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Barbeque]

We have spent many days at the beach in Carpenteria. My son has been playing in the water there since he was 4 or 5 years old. A while back a Great white was at Pismo Beach also. This could actually have a very big effect on this small beach community. If you have never been there it is really a neat beach town. Its about 20 miles north of Ventura, and south of Santa Barbara. There are no timeshares closer than Harbourtown.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

We have spent many days at the beach in Carpenteria. My son has been playing in the water there since he was 4 or 5 years old. A while back a Great white was at Pismo Beach also. This could actually have a very big effect on this small beach community. If you have never been there it is really a neat beach town. Its about 20 miles north of Ventura, and south of Santa Barbara. There are no timeshares closer than Harbourtown.

That whole area of southern California is quite nice. In fact, Carly Simon recorded a very popular song about the area. You remember, "You're Solvang. You prolly think this song is about you."

(Sorry. It's an old Lohman & Barkely joke - old time So Calers will remember Lohman & Barkely. When we lived in the San Bernardino area, I swear that one time I saw Ted commuting in from Indio on his fire truck.)