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Cape Cod sharks hunting seals close to shore: Researchers using aerial cameras to watch great whites’ hunting behavior
Boston Herald ^ | 37 min ago July 5,2021 | RICK SOBEY

Posted on 07/05/2021 5:49:24 PM PDT by Capt. Tom

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is launching aerial cameras to watch great white sharks hunt seals.

Cape Cod shark researchers say it’s rare for them to see sharks attacking seals and they’re hoping to get a better glimpse into great whites’ hunting behavior this summer.

The Cape shark scientists are launching aerial cameras to get a good look at the sharks hunting seals close to shore. The researchers will be setting up the fixed camera system off Orleans’ Nauset Beach to start.

“It allows us to get direct observations of what these sharks are doing when they’re in shallow water, and we can also see what their prey are doing,” said shark scientist Greg Skomal with Massachusetts Marine Fisheries.

The fixed camera system which is tethered to a structure placed in the water, can fly for the whole day, recording up to six hours of video in high definition.

People assume the shark scientists on the water are able to see a shark attacking a seal every day, but they don’t, Skomal said.

“It’s actually somewhat rare for us to see a predation event,” he added. “Our plane will see it two to three times a summer.”

When their plane witnesses an attack, the researchers — if they’re on the water — will go over to the scene and document what happened after the shark hit the seal. The scientists will record the environmental conditions — the water temperature, depth and location — to “try to get a sense of any patterns relative to when these animals are feeding,” Skomal said.

In other parts of the world, research shows that sharks can fail up 70% of the time when they attempt to kill a seal, Skomal said, noting that seals are fast, agile and smart.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Education; Local News; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: drones; whitesharks
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A change of pace from the tagging by the biologists.

No shortage of sharks there from here on out till November.

This morning the beach at Newcomb Hollow Wellfleet was closed temporarily as a shark pinged the new real- time buoy there. That beach is where Arthur Medici was fatality attacked by a white shark a couple of years ago. -Tom

1 posted on 07/05/2021 5:49:24 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
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To: All

Well, so much for my seal styled floatie.


2 posted on 07/05/2021 5:58:08 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Favorite Song? Phil Collins "I'll be Stalking You". )
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To: Capt. Tom

Will they finally find evidence of shark jocks hazing shark nerds?

Or of great white shark privilege?


3 posted on 07/05/2021 5:59:17 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Capt. Tom

Hopefully the Seal population has rebounded. Save the Seals!


4 posted on 07/05/2021 6:18:41 PM PDT by Tommy Revolts
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To: BipolarBob; TMN78247; Makana; 1Old Pro; Roccus; Justa; Faith65; rlmorel; Red Badger; JPJones; ...
Well, so much for my seal styled floatie.

There is a use for a seal styled floatie.
Some people troll them behind a boat with the cameras trained on the fake seal to get film footage of a white shark attacking the decoy. Since the white sharks are protected by the Federal Govt.,and many of the coastal States, it is probably illegal to do that now in this country.-Tom

5 posted on 07/05/2021 6:20:26 PM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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To: Capt. Tom
Be sure and wear these all you democrat swimmers.😎


6 posted on 07/05/2021 6:20:29 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Capt. Tom

I guess the seals don’t hear the cello music as the Great White approaches them.


7 posted on 07/05/2021 6:32:13 PM PDT by Redcitizen
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To: Capt. Tom

I have an app called Sharktivity to track them. I don’t know why because I live in the desert. but if I go to the East Coast I’m all set.


8 posted on 07/05/2021 6:33:51 PM PDT by JouleZ (You are the company you keep.)
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To: Capt. Tom
And then there is the food chain and poetic justice.


9 posted on 07/05/2021 6:36:15 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: BipolarBob
"my seal styled floatie"

No problem.

Just wear a black wetsuite and black swim fins.

10 posted on 07/05/2021 6:51:47 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: JouleZ
I have an app called Sharktivity to track them. I don’t know why because I live in the desert. but if I go to the East Coast I’m all set.

You will have plenty of alerts for the next 4 months.

I am going to get a new cell phone in a week or so, and may put "sharktivity" on it.-Tom

11 posted on 07/05/2021 6:54:51 PM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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To: Capt. Tom
Since the white sharks are protected by the Federal Govt.,and many of the coastal States, it is probably illegal to do that now in this country.

"Well,it's like this yer honor. I was trolling for bull sharks but those stupid Great Whites can't tell the difference."

12 posted on 07/05/2021 7:24:02 PM PDT by SanchoP
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To: Capt. Tom

**“It allows us to get direct observations of what these sharks are doing when they’re in shallow water, and we can also see what their prey are doing,” said shark scientist Greg Skomal with Massachusetts Marine Fisheries.**

What do they expect to catch them doing, playing tag?


13 posted on 07/05/2021 7:29:59 PM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: Zuriel
What do they expect to catch them doing, playing tag?

Most white shark attacks on seals seem to come from below, where the shark can get under the seal unnoticed and attack vertically.

A lot of the seals being attacked are in shallow water on Cape Cod and the shark has to use a different strategy to make a horizontal attack, since the water may only be waist deep.-Tom

14 posted on 07/05/2021 8:23:00 PM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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To: Capt. Tom

Come on, everybody knows the sharks still swim along the old slave ship routes.


15 posted on 07/05/2021 8:26:55 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Capt. Tom

I don’t have an app. I’ve used this rule: Dry land = no sharks, in the water = could be sharks. Also, if you are in the water and hear creepy music, get out of the water. Something really bad is about to happen. That also works for spooky houses too. It’s kept me safe for decades.

The only exception of sharks on dry land is in the fish department of a grocery store.


16 posted on 07/06/2021 6:51:34 AM PDT by Dutch Boy
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To: Capt. Tom

Just loaded it, the 3 most typical places, Chatham, National Seashore/ Marconi Beach, up towards Provincetown. All Ocean side.


17 posted on 07/06/2021 6:54:22 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: 1Old Pro
Just loaded it, the 3 most typical places, Chatham, National Seashore/ Marconi Beach, up towards Provincetown. All Ocean side.

Are you going to try the Brewster Bay side this year?-Tom

18 posted on 07/06/2021 7:12:44 AM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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To: Capt. Tom

Ocean Edge in 2 weeks.


19 posted on 07/06/2021 7:13:43 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: 1Old Pro
Ocean Edge in 2 weeks.

I hope this doesn't mean you are going to play more Golf and spend less time splashing around in the ocean.

If you don't want to splash around, you could get a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard)and drive up to the easterly oceanside beaches in TRURO and WELLFLEET, some of the Capes most beautiful beaches, like Long Nook, Newcomb Hollow etc.

And don't let the bathers at those beaches bother you since they won't go in water deeper than their waists.
Just launch your SUP and get out into deeper water.

You could give us Freepers a first hand report, or if you are unable we will get the info from the newspapers and TV. - Tom /S

20 posted on 07/06/2021 10:17:18 AM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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