Humboldt squid die along 12 miles of beach in Santa Cruz County, CA

[Emily]

The researcher in the video interview says that the squid were still alive when they washed up and the number of squid was estimated to be in the thousands, not hundreds.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/351801/28/12-miles-of-dead-squid-wash-ashore

12 miles of dead squid wash ashore
9:43 PM, Dec 11, 2012
By Kiet Do

APTOS, Calif. (KPIX/CNN) - Scientists are investigating why several hundred dead squid have washed ashore along California beaches.

The beaches of Santa Cruz County are littered with carcasses of thousands of Humboldt squid. They've stranded themselves from Aptos to Watsonville, a span of 12 miles...

Unusual patterns in Humboldt squid have been observed along the N. American west coast since 2004.

http://www.malibudivers.com/index.php/option/content/task/view/id/201

Jumbo squid spook divers off San Diego

By GILLIAN FLACCUS (AP) - Jul 16, 2009

SAN DIEGO ? Thousands of jumbo flying squid ? aggressive 5-foot-long sea monsters with razor-sharp beaks and toothy tentacles ? have invaded the shallow waters off San Diego, spooking scuba divers and washing up dead on tourist-packed beaches.

The carnivorous calamari, which can grow up to 100 pounds, came up from the depths last week and swarms of them roughed up unsuspecting divers. Some divers report tentacles enveloping their masks and yanking at their cameras and gear.

Stories of too-close encounters with the alien-like cephalopods have chased many veteran divers out of the water and created a whirlwind of excitement among the rest, who are torn between their personal safety and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to swim with the deep-sea giants...

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