They spotted the beached giant octopus between two rock formations along the Oregon Coast on June 7.
Floundering in the receding tide, the rust-red cephalopod lay with legs splayed out helplessly in the sand between Haystack Rock and the Needles—another famous coastal formation.
It was still morning and the visitor promptly alerted a Rocky Shore interpreter. This still-writhing octopus was alive, though it would need a good coaxing to reach the safety of deeper pools.
The tidepools near Haystack Rock are a biodiversity hotspot. Besides giant octopuses such as this, the habitat is home to nesting birds, such as tufted puffins, common murres, and black oystercatchers. There are also marine mammals such as sea lions and seals….