Expert Explains Squid Strand
Jumbo Humboldt squid washed up minutes after a 4.0 quake hit off the La Jolla coast. Or did they?
KNSD
The sight of so many squid washed up on our shore just after a quake had many making a connection.
You may have heard the story.
Saturday morning, around 7:30 a.m., a 4.0 earthquake hit near La Jolla, centered 19 miles out in the ocean. Later that morning, word started to spread about squid washing up on La Jolla Shores. Not just any squid - huge squid and dozens of them. Coincidence?
“It’s like their equilibrium is all messed up and they don’t know what they’re doing and they can’t back out there,” said beachgoer Bill Baumann. “It was like they got -- I don’t know -- all shook up.”
“A state guy was out and said the earthquake caused (it),” he said.
The dazed Humboldt squid, each roughly three- to four-feet long and weighing close to 40 pounds, were flapping around on the beach.
It didn’t take long for the seagulls to swoop in and start feeding on the squid, so beachgoers ran to the rescue and tried frantically to save them by throwing them back in the water.
We're not sure who that "state guy" was but we tracked down someone who should know what was happening with the squid.
John Hyde studies the squid and other animals like it in his job as fishery biologist with the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center. When we mentioned the quake sending the squid to the sand, Hyde tried not to smile too wide.
Apparently, we should all put our calls to "Unsolved Mysteries" on hold. Hyde's got all the info we need.
Here are the basics: The Humboldt Squid are locals so-to-speak. They've been in the area over the past six to eight years according to Hyde and make for good fishing in January and February.
They're huge - gaining close to 100 pounds in their one-year lifespan -- so food is always on their mind.
“It’s unlikely that the earthquake caused them to strand,” Hyde said. “The most likely cause of the stranding is the squid coming too close to the shore.”
Coming too close following food. San Diego has seen some market squid in the water off La Jolla Cove recently as well as sardines and anchovies.
So no strange natural phenomenon? No reason to start squirreling away water for The Big One?
To paraphrase Hyde, "Nope." It's likely a natural occurrence that's been happening most of this week. “They’ve stranded before and will probably strand again,” he said.
One thing Hyde wanted to point out is that it's important that beach goers keep their distance.
A squid has a big beak that looks like a parrot’s beak between the tentacles that is designed for cutting chunks out of things the squid wants to eat, he said. If you were to get your fingers in too close, it’s likely you’ll get a nasty bite. They also have tooth rings on their tentacles that help latch onto their prey. The rings can easily grab you even if the squid is dead.
“In reality, the squid on the beach aren’t going to come chase you down and attack you," Hyde said. "But if you poke around and prod at them, you might get hurt.”
Posted Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 3:32 PM PST
