Latest news with #MarkGirardeau
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
U.S. Coast Guard boat shown speeding over whales off California
A Southern California-based photographer on Thursday shared footage showing a U.S Coast Guard boat speeding over two gray whales off Laguna Beach. Mark Girardeau, who has spent countless hours on marine mammal excursions off Orange County, shared the footage to illustrate that vessels of all types pose a threat to whales that feed or migrate in California waters. 'One of the challenges gray whales face is boat traffic, especially along the California coast where there is no shortage of cargo ships, oil tankers, personal yachts, ferries, jet skiers, search & rescue operations, etc.,' Girardeau stated via Instagram. 'All which are not actively watching for whales.' Girardeau explained that in this case, which he described as a close call, the Coast Guard vessel did not strike either of the whales, one of which can be seen diving to avoid being struck. The Coast Guard crew, Girardeau added, had been searching for a swimmer who had been pulled to sea by a current and did not survive. It's likely that the crew did not even see the whales. Girardeau told FTW Outdoors that he captured the footage in 2019 with a drone that he piloted from shore. This article originally appeared on For The Win: U.S. Coast Guard boat shown speeding over whales off California
USA Today
7 days ago
- General
- USA Today
U.S. Coast Guard boat shown speeding over whales off California
U.S. Coast Guard boat shown speeding over whales off California A Southern California-based photographer on Thursday shared footage showing a U.S Coast Guard boat speeding over two gray whales off Laguna Beach. Mark Girardeau, who has spent countless hours on marine mammal excursions off Orange County, shared the footage to illustrate that vessels of all types pose a threat to whales that feed or migrate in California waters. 'One of the challenges gray whales face is boat traffic, especially along the California coast where there is no shortage of cargo ships, oil tankers, personal yachts, ferries, jet skiers, search & rescue operations, etc.,' Girardeau stated via Instagram. 'All which are not actively watching for whales.' Girardeau explained that in this case, which he described as a close call, the Coast Guard vessel did not strike either of the whales, one of which can be seen diving to avoid being struck. The Coast Guard crew, Girardeau added, had been searching for a swimmer who had been pulled to sea by a current and did not survive. It's likely that the crew did not even see the whales. Girardeau told FTW Outdoors that he captured the footage in 2019 with a drone that he piloted from shore.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- CBS News
Videos capture the return of Orange County mountain lion named "Newport"
Wildlife cameras have captured what appears to be the return of a mountain lion nicknamed "Newport," that was caught on camera creating chaos in Orange County three years ago. The big cat was spotted running through the parking lot of an Irvine shopping center, swimming in Lake Mission Viejo and sauntering through Newport Beach back in 2022. Since then, he hasn't really been spotted, at least not knowingly. Now, years later, it appears that Newport has returned to Orange County, though the newest videos show him in a much more fitting habitat, as he explores the Santa Ana Mountains and the surrounding area. He was officially sighted on May 7, where he briefly stops to rub his face on some branches before inspecting the camera. "So Newport for some reason, his face seems to always be itchy," said Mark Girardeau. "Every time he finds a stick where we have cameras, he just gets super into it and just itches himself and he just loves a good little massage." Girardeau and Rachel Devloud are wildlife photographers who purchased a series of cameras typically intended for hunters. They installed them, however, to monitor nature. So far they've put up about 50 cameras, and once a week they hike along the Santa Ana Mountain trails to retrieve footage, which they then share on their Facebook group called "Orange County Outdoors." They have clips of skunks, deer, opossums, foxes, raccoons and mountain lions, including Newport. "Just a hobby, we do this for fun. Rachel and I just go out there and it's very entertaining for us," Girardeau said. "It's also nice because we can educate the public about the mountain lions, because there's so much fear about them."
