Cruz

[Greg]

Nope. But it was bad none the less.

[Drunk Monk]

So my first major talkdown for 2024 is my dog. He does not like fireworks at all and these were loud - so close - and went for a full half hour. Yuki was freaked, cowering under my desk. I got down there with him and comforted him. One blast was so close and so big that it made me jump. Car alarms were going off all through my hood. Such a cacophony. 

After it was done, it took me another half hour to coax Yuki back into the living room. When he finally understood it was over and we survived, he got so happy - jumping all over and tackling me to lick me. He’s good now, but he was leery for another hour or so. 

I should’ve taken him to svale - we could’ve spent the night there. But that would’ve made tomorrow tricky. 

At least it’ll be another 100 years before there’s another fireworks show in the Cruz.

[Drunk Monk]

High number of dead sea lions found off California coast, UCSC scientists investigating

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Updated: 4:10 PM PDT May 21, 2024[/url]
Ricardo Tovar  

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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —
Dead sea lion pups are being discovered off the coast of California. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz are now trying to pinpoint the cause.
In the last few weeks, they say they have found over 250 dead sea lion pups off of Ano Nuevo Island. It is being called an unusual mortality event.
"It almost looks like it's kind of rain sea lion pups, and they get kind of picked apart by gulls and scavengers so it's a bit of a battlefield almost. It's a bit grim," said UCSC graduate student George Colaco.
The dead pups are believed to be aborted early. Most have nearly reached full term as pupping season starts in June.
In usual years, the island sees about 700 pups born with only about 1 or 2 aborted, so finding nearly 300 dead and counting is extremely unusual, say researchers.
"The ocean's changing, it's changing in ways in which we don't completely understand," said the Director of the Institute of Marine Science for UCSC, Dr. Daniel Costa.
Dr. Daniel Costa and his students at UCSC have collected pup carcasses for testing and are working to determine a cause.
"My best guess is that we're coming off of an El Niño event. That means that food links are down there, less food, there's less fish in general. My best guess, and it's a guess, is that food availability is down, California sea population or an extreme high, so they're already at a point where you pretty much maxed out," said Costa.
Costa and his team are using satellite tracking to better understand sea lion behavior The graph shows some sea lions are traveling as far down as Baja California.
"We've tracked sea lions, a total of about six years. In the past, we've never seen that kind of movement so that makes me think that they're looking for food," said Costa.
Other than the effects of climate change, UCSC researchers are looking into other causes like the avian flu or pesticides.
"Right now, it's doing more research, really keeping a close watchful eye on the behaviors. We're seeing how things are changing because this is kind of rapidly developing," said Colaco.
At this point, this is believed to be widespread, with similar phenomena seen across the West Coast.
"I think nature has to heal itself in this case," said Costa.
Scientists say though many sea lions have been found dead, this isn't extremely devastating just yet — but if this continues for the next few years, this could be a real problem.

No beach play for Yuki until this clears up

---

Rare bear sighting in Monterey has some on edge
Updated: 6:16 PM PDT May 27, 2024

Ricardo Tovar [url=https://twitter.com/rtovarg13] 

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MONTEREY, Calif. —
Some people living near Jack's Peak Park are on edge after a reported bear sighting.
Officials say it is rare in the area and only happens every few years. Neighbors say this is something they never thought they'd see in their community.
Images show the bear casually strolling through the La Mesa neighborhood in Monterey just before 3 a.m. on Sunday.
The bear was described as having long, shaggy brown fur and standing about three feet tall and four feet wide.
"I kind of freaked out because I lived out here my whole life, and I've never even heard of there being a bear around here, so I was a little in shock," said Carmel resident Jasper Dale.
The furry creature was seen walking along a road near Jack's Peak and heading toward La Mesa. When it was spotted in the neighborhood, it was seen following behind a coyote at a slow pace.
"I saw a brown bear and it's I don't know probably like half of my size trying to walk where the coyote was walking and it just keeps on howling looking back at the bear," said Monterey resident, Erose Hill.
Wildlife officials say bobcats and mountain lions are a much more common sight in the area. But the occasional bear is a rare sight.
Usually, they travel from the Ventana Wilderness and cross through Jack's Peak before making their way into surrounding neighborhoods.
At this point, the bear appears to be alone and there have been no known reports of damage caused by the bear in either the La Mesa neighborhood or at Jack's Peak Park.
Officials say if the bear does become a nuisance only then will the the California Department of Fish and Wildlife get involved.
The message to the community is always on guard. If you see a bear remain calm, make yourself appear larger, make noise if you can to scare it away and do not run.

The bear probably came down for the reggae...

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

High number of dead sea lions found off California coast, UCSC scientists investigating

Share

Updated: 4:10 PM PDT May 21, 2024[/url]
Ricardo Tovar  

Play Video

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —
Dead sea lion pups are being discovered off the coast of California. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz are now trying to pinpoint the cause.
In the last few weeks, they say they have found over 250 dead sea lion pups off of Ano Nuevo Island. It is being called an unusual mortality event.
"It almost looks like it's kind of rain sea lion pups, and they get kind of picked apart by gulls and scavengers so it's a bit of a battlefield almost. It's a bit grim," said UCSC graduate student George Colaco.
The dead pups are believed to be aborted early. Most have nearly reached full term as pupping season starts in June.
In usual years, the island sees about 700 pups born with only about 1 or 2 aborted, so finding nearly 300 dead and counting is extremely unusual, say researchers.
"The ocean's changing, it's changing in ways in which we don't completely understand," said the Director of the Institute of Marine Science for UCSC, Dr. Daniel Costa.
Dr. Daniel Costa and his students at UCSC have collected pup carcasses for testing and are working to determine a cause.
"My best guess is that we're coming off of an El Niño event. That means that food links are down there, less food, there's less fish in general. My best guess, and it's a guess, is that food availability is down, California sea population or an extreme high, so they're already at a point where you pretty much maxed out," said Costa.
Costa and his team are using satellite tracking to better understand sea lion behavior The graph shows some sea lions are traveling as far down as Baja California.
"We've tracked sea lions, a total of about six years. In the past, we've never seen that kind of movement so that makes me think that they're looking for food," said Costa.
Other than the effects of climate change, UCSC researchers are looking into other causes like the avian flu or pesticides.
"Right now, it's doing more research, really keeping a close watchful eye on the behaviors. We're seeing how things are changing because this is kind of rapidly developing," said Colaco.
At this point, this is believed to be widespread, with similar phenomena seen across the West Coast.
"I think nature has to heal itself in this case," said Costa.
Scientists say though many sea lions have been found dead, this isn't extremely devastating just yet — but if this continues for the next few years, this could be a real problem.

No beach play for Yuki until this clears up

---

Rare bear sighting in Monterey has some on edge
Updated: 6:16 PM PDT May 27, 2024

Ricardo Tovar [url=https://twitter.com/rtovarg13] 

Play Video

MONTEREY, Calif. —
Some people living near Jack's Peak Park are on edge after a reported bear sighting.
Officials say it is rare in the area and only happens every few years. Neighbors say this is something they never thought they'd see in their community.
Images show the bear casually strolling through the La Mesa neighborhood in Monterey just before 3 a.m. on Sunday.
The bear was described as having long, shaggy brown fur and standing about three feet tall and four feet wide.
"I kind of freaked out because I lived out here my whole life, and I've never even heard of there being a bear around here, so I was a little in shock," said Carmel resident Jasper Dale.
The furry creature was seen walking along a road near Jack's Peak and heading toward La Mesa. When it was spotted in the neighborhood, it was seen following behind a coyote at a slow pace.
"I saw a brown bear and it's I don't know probably like half of my size trying to walk where the coyote was walking and it just keeps on howling looking back at the bear," said Monterey resident, Erose Hill.
Wildlife officials say bobcats and mountain lions are a much more common sight in the area. But the occasional bear is a rare sight.
Usually, they travel from the Ventana Wilderness and cross through Jack's Peak before making their way into surrounding neighborhoods.
At this point, the bear appears to be alone and there have been no known reports of damage caused by the bear in either the La Mesa neighborhood or at Jack's Peak Park.
Officials say if the bear does become a nuisance only then will the the California Department of Fish and Wildlife get involved.
The message to the community is always on guard. If you see a bear remain calm, make yourself appear larger, make noise if you can to scare it away and do not run.

The bear probably came down for the reggae...

Heard there was an “all you can eat” seafood buffet featuring Endless sea lion Pups

[Drunk Monk]

Heard there was an “all you can eat” seafood buffet featuring Endless sea lion Pups

Makes sense...

[King Bob]

I read once that bears are much more common that people realize and male bears can range over an area up to 300 square miles. I imagine climate change and habitat destruction are affecting their locations as well.

[King Bob]

Now you've got mutant rabbits running around

CHP rescues giant rabbit along Santa Cruz County highway

[Drunk Monk]

[thatguy]

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

From our neighborhood Nextdoor.com

We live in Seabright, in the 200 block of Ocean View Avenue, close to Ocean View Park. Yesterday day morning at approximately 0600 we saw a juvenile mountain lion in our driveway. Please keep your pets indoor at night

This is just a few blocks from our bungalow.

[Drunk Monk]

SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALKRIDERS HAVE TO WALK DOWN COASTER ...After Medical Emergency
6/24/2024 3:21 PM PT

Thrill seekers got more than they bargained for at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk ... folks who were riding the classic roller coaster had to be evacuated near the top of the ride!!!
Footage from the beachside theme park shows several riders being led down the Giant Dipper's wooden structure Sunday ... holding on to the railing for dear life as they climb down a huge ramp. They're not quite at the pinnacle of the ride, but they're certainly uphill.


It's pretty scary ... the people being evacuated from the ride had their car stuck at the top of the coaster's lift hill ... so they have a lot of track to cover. In terms of why they had to get out and trek down ... we have an answer, and as it turns out -- it was completely necessary.
A rep for Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk tells TMZ … the coaster was evacuated after a guest experienced a medical emergency down in the ride's loading station.

We're told there were no accidents with the coaster cars ... the ride just needed to halt operations temporarily to make sure the guest in need was safe, and riders were evacuated because it was going to take a long time to get everything settled.

SCBB says the videos show their employees leading the evacuations from the front and back of the line ... and the Giant Dipper is back to normal now.

istock

BTW ... this coaster is the 4th oldest in the U.S. and one of the ten oldest in the world. In other words ... hold on tight, both on the ride -- and on your way down by foot. ?

This is just a few blocks from our bungalow.

[thatguy]

I’m just glad no one fell off and impaled themselves on the carousel unicorn…



—tg

[King Bob]

The Merc had an article today that Santa Cruz is the priciest rental market in the nation, with SF as number two.

[Drunk Monk]

so sez our brotha in san jo...

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

These "priciest" lists are suspect to me. Seems like each one is contradictory to the previous. In the last year have read that San Jose and LA were priciest, San Diego in #2 slot. An Economist poll had LA in the top 10 in the world and SF in the top 15.