Santa Cruz County sees two shark attacks in just days

In Santa Cruz County, there have been two reported shark attacks in the last three days.

On Sunday evening, officials with California State Parks said a harbor seal was attacked by a shark 50 yards away from the shore. Signs are now posted warning residents to not enter the water.

“It does make me a little nervous,” said beachgoer Brie Nelson.

Nelson was staying out of the water Monday after she saw the signs posted by state parks.

“One of our rangers was flagged down by a beach goers who described seeing a shark attack a harbor seal,” said Ranger Joe Connor.

Meanwhile, further south at Manresa State Beach there was another reported attack. A Central Coast man surfing on Saturday told state parks a 15 foot great white shark dragged him under water.

“He says while he was riding a wave he was knocked off his surf board and saw a shark biting his board,” said Connor.

Park rangers have not seen the board in person, and are still investigating this incident. But in the mean time they have closed off water entry for five days at Manresa Beach.

Dave Ebert with the Pacific Shark Research Center in Moss Landing said it’s not unusual to see great whites so close to the shore this time of year.

“They actually hunt in the surf.” said Ebert. “With all the activity going on in the water movement and everything, it puts them at an advantage so they tend to move into the surf to actually hunt,” added Ebert.

Ebert said great white sharks migrate through the Central Coast between August and January.

“Their food items are here. Things like the elephant seals and sea lions are very abundant here and that’s what the sharks are coming here to look for,” said Ebert.

And because sharks are looking for food, Ebert said it’s not unusual for a shark to mistake a surfer for a seal.