Latest news with #SFGATE
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Horror as 10ft shark rams surfer into the ocean and circles him before destroying his board
A California surfer was left fearing for his life after coming face-to-face with a huge shark that destroyed his board just off the coast of a popular beach. Jens Heller had only paddled 100 yards off the shore of Montara State Beach on May 31 when he felt a sudden lurch under his surfboard and something hit his foot from below the water. At first, the father thought he'd hit a rock - but he soon realized the truth was far more terrifying. The impact caused him to wobble and eventually fall from his board. When he came up from under the water, he was making direct eye contact with the beady black eyes and sharp, pointed teeth of one of the ocean's most terrifying creatures. 'I shoved the board towards the shark and tried to kick to get away, but then it let go of the board pretty quickly and just swam away,' he told SFGATE. The 42-year-old then grabbed his board and paddled towards the shore as fast as he could, although he still wasn't sure he'd make it out alive. He told local news outlets that his wife and six-month-old daughter were waiting back on the beach, completely oblivious to Heller's brush with the creature. Once safely on land and out of harm's way, Heller took a closer look at the damage his aquatic nemesis had done to the surfboard. It was only then he realized just how close its teeth had come to his foot. The board sustained several bite marks, but the Albany, California resident is calling them 'curiosity bites,' knowing the predator could've torn him and the board to shreds if it really wanted to. Several nearby surfers witnessed the encounter and one of them estimated that Heller's attacker was about 10 feet long. The species is currently unclear but Heller told local sources he believes it may have been a white shark. Montara State Beach officials have taken samples from the board to confirm. Despite coming a little too close for comfort, Heller says he's going to keep surfing, just maybe not at Montara State Beach - at least not for a while. 'Yeah, I will go back out.,' he said to local news channel ABC7. 'I have to be in the water at some point again.' California State Park Information Officer Adeline Yee told Daily Mail that following the incident at 2pm on May 31, lifeguards cleared the water and posted shark closure signage. The beach has reopened as of 2pm on Monday, June 3. Though he attempted to patch it up, the surfboard is now retired. Heller says it will go on his wall as a badge of honor Yee also said: 'California State Parks would like to remind visitors that sharks are an important part of the coastal ecosystem and that interactions between people and sharks are rare.' Despite the terrifying encounter, Heller remains optimistic. He told local sources that he's glad to have an excuse to buy a new surfboard, even noting that this one was getting old anyway. Though he attempted to patch it up, the surfboard is now retired. Heller says it will go on his wall as a badge of honor.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists sound alarm after witnessing disturbing change in near-extinct species: 'We just knew that there weren't very many left'
A rare species faces extinction after the population drops to the staggeringly low number of just 38 surviving fish. According to an article in SFGATE, the Devil's Hole pupfish — one of Earth's rarest fish — neared extinction after an earthquake almost wiped out the entire species. In Death Valley National Park, the cave system known as the Devil's Hole is home to the Devil's Hole pupfish. These fish, "named after their tendency to frolic like puppies," according to SFGATE, are two inches long and are completely unique to this one geothermal pool. The unique species is closely monitored by biologists, who were devastated to see the impact a 7.0 earthquake 500 miles away in Humboldt County had on the cave and its aquatic inhabitants. The movement of the earthquake disturbed the water, destroying many larval fish and eggs. Another quake a few months later harmed the species once again. Death Valley spokesperson Abby Wines told SFGATE, "We just knew that there weren't very many left. The scientists were extremely concerned. Each time they went to the cave, there were less and less fish swimming near the surface." The scientists were distressed to find just 38 fish left after the natural disaster. Conservation of land and the creatures that live there is vital for the biodiversity of the planet. It not only helps prevent the extinction of animals but also provides natural beauty around the globe for people to enjoy. From conserving forests and wetlands to eradicating invasive species, many scientists are working tirelessly to protect the flora and fauna that the planet relies on to survive. Though the pupfish has a tiny population that only inhabits one cave in the world, it's important to prevent the extinction of such a rare species. This playful breed of fish is just one tiny part of an ecosystem filled with wild and wonderful species that deserve to survive and thrive. Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses? Absolutely Depends on how we do it Depends on where we do it Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Though conservationists aim not to impact species with human intervention where possible, the shockingly low number of pupfish made them take urgent action and breed some of the fish in captivity. They replicated the conditions of the cave and bred nineteen more pupfish to introduce into the school. After careful monitoring, it seems as though the pupfish spawned a lot over recent weeks, which is hopeful for increasing the population. To help the species further, scientists are providing the pupfish with extra feed, made of shrimp, daphnia, and fly larvae, according to Abby Wines. Hopefully, this effort will allow the species to thrive and repopulate. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hannah Kobayashi speaks out after L.A. disappearance, father's suicide
Hannah Kobayashi, whose disappearance from Los Angeles in November of last year led to a statewide search and international headlines, took to social media recently to speak out about her 'loss, pain and suffering.' The Instagram Stories post over the weekend comes nearly six months after her father, Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide during the weekslong search for Hannah, who was eventually found safe in what police called a 'voluntary' disappearance into Mexico. 'Hi, everyone. I just want to come on here and take the time to say how grateful I am for everyone. Every single person who dedicated time and energy into looking for me,' Hannah said on the post, which was shared by the Daily Mail. Still images distributed at the time of her disappearance captured of the then 30-year-old Hawaii resident in various locations across the city. Family members and loved ones traveled to L.A. to aid in the search, with some concerned she may have been abducted and held against her will. Ryan Kobayashi was among the family members to fly from Hawaii to Los Angeles to search for his missing daughter. His body was later found near LAX. When she finally returned to the U.S., Hannah said she was unaware of the media firestorm her disappearance caused and had remained off social media until this weekend's post. 'Every day is such a gift. Especially, after such loss and pain and suffering,' she said in the post. 'We should all learn to be kind to one another.' She didn't address her father's death directly, but SFGATE reported that Hannah plans to share more details soon. 'Given my particular situation on the other side of my experience, I understand how some people would choose to cast me in a negative light, but I know who I am, I know my truth and one day, I will share it,' Kobayashi told SFGATE over Instagram. 'I do believe that we can all learn to be kinder to one another because we never really know what someone else has been through unless we've walked in their shoes.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Shame on you': California hotel under fire for attempting to privatize beach
A historic hotel in the upscale coastal community of Laguna Beach is facing scrutiny for attempting to create a private beach area for its guests in apparent violation of California state law. Hotel Laguna, a landmark along the Pacific Coast Highway for over a century, is accused of violating California's long-standing Coastal Act by constructing a sand berm and placing signage and lounge chairs on a public stretch of sand, SFGATE reported Wednesday. Social media platforms have been abuzz with images and videos in recent weeks showing a raised sand barrier to protect the protected area, groomed and furnished with lounge chairs bearing the hotel's name. One video allegedly showed hotel staff asking members of the public to leave the cordoned-off area. Andrew Willis, enforcement staff counsel for the California Coastal Commission, told SFGATE that the agency has received numerous complaints about the situation. The commission says Hotel Laguna's efforts are a clear violation of the California Coastal Act, a 1976 law safeguarding public access to the state's beaches. In a letter of violation sent to the hotel on May 8, the commission stated that the berm and signage 'unlawfully discourage public access to public trust lands,' SFGATE reported. Although some sections of California's beaches and coastal bluffs are privately owned, the state retains ownership of all land seaward of the mean high tide line. Under the California Coastal Act, the public has the right to access the wet sand, meaning property owners cannot legally block access to the shoreline, even if they own the adjacent dry sand. The backlash has spilled onto the hotel's Instagram page, where numerous commenters have voiced their disapproval on older posts. Among them: 'Shame on you for stealing public resources.' 'Y'all don't own any part of the California beach.' 'The richies in OC always act like the rules don't apply to them.' 'Stop calling dibs on what's not yours.' Hotel Laguna did not respond to SFGATE's request for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
15-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Yosemite's famous backcountry camps won't open this summer
In another blow to Yosemite National Park amid federal staffing cuts that have curtailed aspects of summertime operations, the park won't open its vaunted High Sierra Camps this summer. 'Unfortunately, the utilities which support the High Sierra Camps — potable water and toilets — will not be available and the camps will not be operated this summer,' according to a statement from Yosemite concessionaire Aramark. 'This decision was made in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), which manages the utilities necessary to run the camps. Impacted guests have been contacted and can book alternate accommodations within the park and will be offered priority booking for next year's lottery.' The reason wasn't immediately clear. However, according to SFGATE, which first reported the closure, Aramark sent an email to a prospective camper explaining that 'the park service needs to prioritize its resources to serve the broadest group of visitors.' SFGATE and the Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently. With tent-cabins, hot showers and fully staffed kitchens in Yosemite's world-class backcountry setting, the historic camps have long been a bucket-list destination for Californians. But ramping up operations at the remote camps is a tough task, and the seasonal sites have scarcely opened in the past six summers. Heavy winter snowfall in 2018 caused them to close for repairs; they remained shuttered during the pandemic; and then in 2023 another winter of deep snowpack kept them out of order. Last year they opened, but late in the summer season. The High Sierra Camps closure is the latest update to Yosemite's summertime operations. The park recently opted to re-establish its summertime reservation system for day visitors and announced the closure of the backpacker campsite in Yosemite Valley popular among Half Dome hikers.
