![]() ![]() Without the “pink ball” they have been trained to respond to at feeding time, I was just another fish in the exhibit. When I realized the eels were only curious about whether or not I had food, I relaxed. The first time I dove Orford Reef-the exhibit housing six wolf eels-I hate to admit it, but I was nervous. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has a lot to do with this overwhelming change of heart. Like others, I first saw the teeth, the angry-looking face, the evil sidekick reputation (thanks a bunch Disney). While I have never been scared of them, I have always been cautious. Some as shallow as 40 feet, but more often in the 100 to 120 feet range tucked into rocky dens in the Hood Canal. Since 2016 I have seen many more wolf eels. How on earth does one reconcile these differences? On the one hand we are capable of eating animals, totally detaching ourselves from their experience, life and character and then on the other, of loving and appreciating them, crying when they die, and yes even reading personalities into their actions. It was at this point that I realized how peculiar people are. When we surfaced, my instructor-a tall, “manly man” known for his crabbing prowess and love of a good old tri-tip steak-talked affectionately about this creature, as though he were talking about his dog. It didn’t appear scared, but it also didn’t act aggressively. It was as though it was just as interested in checking us out as we were it. It peered at each of us but didn’t venture out too much further. There, like a frond of seaweed, a thick grey wolf eel was wafting, its fat upper torso tapering into a slim ribbon shape that it kept tucked inside the tire. He stopped suddenly and gestured toward an old car tire. My instructor was leading the way back up the slope after our deep dive for the Advanced class. The first time I saw a wolf eel was in 2016 at about 60 feet in the Hood Canal in Washington State. While the daring diver will tell you “if you’re careful you can give ‘em a scratch under the chin,” most people will pull back in distaste, the wolf eel’s wrinkly face, and needle-sharp teeth the sole focus of their gaze.īut, spend enough time diving with these creatures and even the most hard-hearted soul will find themselves softening. Unfortunately, wolf eels-much like sharks-have an undeservedly poor reputation. Today their grumpy faces have a way of making me smile, even with a regulator in my mouth. Firstly by reputation, secondly by observation, and more recently as a result of hand-feeding them squid in the Oregon Coast Aquarium. In the couple of years I have spent obsessively scuba diving, I have come to know the wolf eel in many different ways. On average, sports fishermen catch around 200 wolf eels per year.If sea lions are the dogs of the sea then the wolf eel is the cat of the sea. Sportsmen also enjoy hunting the fish because of its large size and fearsome appearance. Even though there is no wolf eel industry, fishermen target the fish for its delicate white flesh. Wolf Eels are popular targets among hunters Non-commercial fishermen frequently hunt wolf eels, both legally and illegally.And trawler nets sweeping through reefs destroy coral habitats. ![]() The crab and octopus industries have depleted wolf eel habitats of the eel’s primary food sources. Thus, it is common for wolf eels to become trapped in crab traps while hunting. ![]() Wolf eels feed on crustaceans, such as crabs. Commercial fishing deprives wolf eels of food and habitats Even though there is no commercial industry for fishing wolf eels, they are still hurt by the commercial crabbing industry. ![]() Wolf eels are not considered an endangered species. However, their population has likely been declining for several years. Commercial fisheries do not target wolf eels, but human activity has been hurting the wolf eel population for decades. ![]()
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