I almost let this one slip by, then decided to revisit it ’cause it freaks me the hell out. San Diego is experiencing a virtual invasion of Humboldt squid, more commonly known as jumbo squid. These aggressive, carnivorous monsters can grow up to five feet long and bear a large, parrot-like beak. They’ve been known to boldly investigate divers by motoring right up to them and checking them out with their tentacles. And in case that isn’t worrying you, let me repeat: carnivorous, aggressive, tentacles, beak.
But there’s hope! It seems that they’ve begun washing up on San Diego shores in record numbers, which seems to be baffling oceanographic experts. Which is weird, because according to this article, the years of mankind’s screwing with the environment is slowly causing the ocean to become more and more acidic, which sure as hell could affect the jumbo squid population.
One such change could be the jumbo squid hunting for different fish species than they normally do, including some that might live closer inland, such as just off the coast of San Diego, for random example.
So what it boils down to is: mankind pollutes the ocean, causing Nature to send wave after wave of tentacled terror to bitch slap us for being naughty primates. Yet we’re also responsible for causing the squid to wash themselves on dry land, which kills them. So … wanna call this one a draw, Nature?
Comments
Josh
July 24th, 2009 - 1:28:13 PM
i recently read an article about whales washing up on beaches, which said that was happening due to hi-tech sonar systems on ships that can pierce and distort the whale's innate sense of direction. maybe something similar for the squids?
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