Nova Scotia

Dog was retrieving geese in calm water throughout attack

Posted: 2 Hours Ago
Last Updated: 25 Minutes Ago

Residents on Nova Scotia’s South Shore are shocked by a horrific incident by which a shark snapped up a canine swimming in ocean waters, however a marine biologist says it is no shock.

The attack occurred Wednesday off Frying Pan Island close to the coastal group of Port Medway.

In a press release, the canine’s proprietor mentioned he departed from Port Medway harbour by boat round 8 a.m. along with his canine, Pepper, to hunt sea geese.

“When the ocean is calm and the geese fall close to the boat, it is not uncommon follow to ship a canine into the ocean to retrieve the waterfowl,” wrote Pepper’s proprietor, saying he didn’t wish to be interviewed. “This is what these dogs are bred and skilled for.”

The proprietor raises Chesapeake Bay retrievers.

Pepper retrieved the primary duck with out problem. She then leaped into calm waters to retrieve a second duck that fell about six metres from the boat.

‘It occurred so shortly’

“Pepper jumped in, retrieved the duck and was headed again to the boat when a big shark erupted from beneath her, lifting her into the air after which pushing her down beneath the floor,” the assertion mentioned.

“It occurred so shortly and was so stunning that though I used to be wanting proper at her when it occurred, I can’t say for sure what sort of shark it was.”

Pepper resurfaced and struggled again to the boat, the place her proprietor hauled her to security.

“Her wounds have been grievous, and she or he died shortly after,” mentioned the proprietor, estimating the shark to have been about 2.5 metres lengthy.

Chris Harvey-Clark, a marine biologist and college veterinarian at Dalhousie University in Halifax, mentioned whereas the incident is unlucky, it is indicative of nice white shark behaviour.

Harvey-Clark mentioned nice white sharks usually swim alongside the underside of the ocean and lookup towards the floor for prey. In Nova Scotia’s Atlantic waters, visibility shouldn’t be good.

“Even although they’ve wonderful distinction imaginative and prescient, they might simply mistake a canine on the floor, as an example, for a small seal,” mentioned Harvey-Clark, who has been diving off the province’s coast for many years.

He additionally famous there are many recorded cases of white sharks taking different “non-target” species, noting an incident earlier this summer season by which a deer swimming between two islands in Nova Scotia was attacked by a shark.

“Virtually something that is shifting round within the water with dangerous visibility will be the goal for shark investigation and an investigative chunk from an enormous shark is life-ending for a little bit animal,” he mentioned.

The different issue at play is the plethora of seals that decision Nova Scotia home — prime prey for sharks. It’s why sharks prefer it right here.

“The buffet is open,” he mentioned, including that the province’s South Shore is “a fairly sharky place.”

There are usually not essentially extra sharks in Atlantic waters in recent years, however moderately, extra folks observing their exercise, mentioned Harvey-Clark. We additionally haven’t got an excellent concept of historic and present populations.

“We may have fairly a couple of sharks on the market, however we simply haven’t had the scientific assets in Canada which might be current within the States to do these type of research to have a look at what number of animals are on the market,” he mentioned.

Residents have been left shaken by the ugly incident.

James Harnish, 67, has been fishing mackerel from Port Medway harbour since he was a young boy.

He mentioned he is “by no means heard inform” of a shark attacking an animal in that space.

“I’d say they (folks within the space) can be extra cautious letting their animals and stuff within the water,” Harnish mentioned from a wharf Friday.

“There’s much more seals right here than I’ve ever seen. And they’re massive. They’re the scale of a barrel.”

Shark assaults on people uncommon: researchers

Harvey-Clark was additionally not stunned about how shut the shark was to shore, noting nice white sharks have been identified to troll as shut as 4.5 metres from shorelines.

Nevertheless, he mentioned shark assaults on people are extraordinarily uncommon, noting you are six instances extra more likely to be hit by lightning than bitten by a shark.

He had this recommendation for these headed out into Nova Scotia waters: “Use your widespread sense.”

“Avoid daybreak and nightfall as a result of these are low visibility looking instances,” he mentioned.

“Have some situational consciousness of the place you might be and what the opposite creatures round you might be doing, and simply train cheap judgment and you ought to be simply superb.”

Shark breaches within the space

Steve Crawford, a marine biologist with the University of Guelph, declined a cellphone interview with CBC News, however mentioned in his shark publication that he had been in contact with the canine’s proprietor. He mentioned there have been quite a few shark breaching occasions within the Port Medway area earlier than and after the attack.

“When I spoke yesterday with the hunter about particular circumstances of the attack on his canine, he advised me that the attack was shortly preceded by one other close by hunter with a retrieving canine observing a bigger 12-foot white shark BREACHING NEARBY shortly after his canine had been introduced again to his boat,” Crawford mentioned in his publication.

“I used to be capable of communicate instantly with this different hunter, and he advised me the following morning (Thursday) he noticed a minimum of 4 WHITE SHARK BREACHES IN SIX HOURS at completely different locations simply outdoors of Port Medway Bay/Harbour.”

Crawford mentioned he’s working to doc these observations of shark breaches.

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With information from Gareth Hampshire