Octopus uses all eight legs to cling on during B.C.’s bomb cyclone

Ocean researchers have captured footage that provides a fascinating glimpse into how marine animals are affected by extreme weather events, such as the recent ‘bomb cyclone’ that struck British Columbia. The video, shared by Ocean Networks Canada at the University of Victoria, shows a giant Pacific octopus being buffeted by rapidly changing underwater currents during the storm.

The footage was filmed at Folger Passage near Bamfield on Vancouver Island, where the storm brought waves as high as 10 meters and vertical currents three times stronger than usual. In the video, the octopus can be seen struggling to hold on as it is tossed around by the powerful currents. Despite the octopus’s apparent distress, Kate Moran, president of Ocean Networks Canada, suggests that the experience may not have been entirely negative.

“When I first saw the footage, I thought the octopus was having a bad day, trying to hold on for dear life,” Moran explained. “But some of my colleagues suggested that the octopus might have been exploring the exciting new movement of the water. It’s open to interpretation.”

The fast-changing currents, which reached speeds of up to 200 centimeters per second before dropping rapidly to 15 centimeters per second, were responsible for the octopus’s turbulent experience. The storm also caused damage to the sea floor and knocked some of Ocean Network’s instruments offline. However, Moran believes that this event presents a unique opportunity to study the impact of extreme weather on marine life.

Ocean Networks Canada, which operates over 12,000 sensors in Canada’s oceans, plans to revisit the site in the coming weeks to assess any lasting effects on marine ecosystems. According to the National Ocean Service, hurricane-force winds can have detrimental effects on marine life by disrupting underwater currents and causing shifts in water temperature and salinity.

While the turbulent conditions may pose a threat to some marine species, Moran is confident that the octopus, known for its intelligence and adaptability, will likely weather the storm. “They’ve been around for 400 million years, so they’ve seen it all,” she remarked.

Overall, the footage of the octopus navigating the challenging conditions of the ‘bomb cyclone’ serves as a reminder of the resilience and resourcefulness of marine life in the face of extreme weather events.