Keeping up on current news in science is important because data is always leading to new conclusions. There can be many interesting stories in the news from a new gene found, to a rare species sighting, to odd things that nature does. In a recent news story, a rare and up-close (possibly too close) sighting of a large eagle ray occurred.
On Friday, July 22, 2022, off of the coast of Alabama in the Gulf of Mexico, there was a 400-pound spotted eagle ray that hopped right up onto someone's boat. Thankfully no one on the boat was injured, but it was still an urgent situation. Despite there being four people on board, the ray was too heavy to get off of the boat. It was important to them to save the animal, but also the ray was making the boat back heavy and water was getting on board. They quickly made it back to shore in 20 minutes where they had a marine research group waiting for them. On the way back, they consistently poured water over the ray to help keep it alive. When they arrived at the shore, they lifted the ray and noticed that it had given birth to four pups. The pups were not alive and were donated to science for research. They hypothesize that the ray jumped out of the water to avoid a remora attached to her and it was just unfortunate timing that the boat was directly in its path. (https://www.theinertia.com/news/rare-spotted-eagle-ray-jumps-into-boat-during-fishing-derby-gives-birth-on-deck/)
Photos via April Jones on Facebook
A similar story occurred in the Florida Keys in 2008 off the coast of Marathon, very close to where we Tropical Ospreys were out on a boat this week. This ray was only 80 pounds with about a 5-6 foot wingspan and the boat was traveling 25mph. Originally they thought that the barb got her in the heart, similar to how Steve Irwin died, but it turns out that both the lady and the ray died on impact when it jumped on the boat. Another experience was when a spotted eagle ray jumped on a boat and stabbed an 81-year-old man in the heart with its venomous barb, but miraculously he survived. (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-florida-ray/ray-jumps-kills-boater-off-florida-keys-idUSN3K32064420080320)
Rays swim near the top of tropical waters near coral reefs and feed at the bottom. Pregnant rays are known to give birth when they are distressed in hopes that if they can’t survive, their young might be able to. There are multiple species of rays in the Florida Keys, but the safety precautions for both yourself and the rays remain the same. Keep a safe distance from them. They are typically not ones to approach humans and if they do, they are docile unless provoked. Spotted eagle rays jump out of the water, but as long as you are not in their path, it should not be an issue. (https://www.keywestaquarium.com/stingrays-in-the-florida-keys)
Photo via Me at Chickens and Hens Reef in Islamorada
I find this post to be very interesting. I haven't heard of anything like this before, so this is really cool. When I saw the first picture, before reading the post, I figured the people on the boat somehow caught the ray and brought it onto the deck of the boat. I was very surprised to find out that the ray jumped onboard the boat itself. It's great that the people onboard the boat worked hard to keep this animal alive on the ride back to shore, rather than just leaving it to die. However, it's very sad that the babies didn't survive. I wonder if the babies would've survived if water was being poured on them too. Of course, the babies could have been still born or had no chance of surviving to begin with, but it's still sad.
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