Whales Surprise Surfer Near Santa Cruz, California Beach (VIDEO)

It doesn't belong to me.!!

A surfer and kayakers got quite a surprise when two humpback whales lunged out of the water and nearly came crashing down upon them near Santa Cruz, California.

Barbara Roettger, the woman who shot the video, told ABC News that the group was about a quarter mile from shore when the whales surfaced. Roettger was only 20 feet away from encounter.

According to ABC News, "scientists believe weather patterns have driven fish closer to shore this year and brought the feeding whales with them."

The surprising encounter captured in the video is not the first one in the waters near Santa Cruz. The Associated Press reports that the U.S. Coast Guard has been monitoring a pod of humpbacks that have come within a mile of shore looking for food.

Roettger admitted that whale encounters like hers can be dangerous. "We were crazy to be out there, " she told ABC News. "You're a sitting duck, basically."

Officials are concerned for human safety, especially for kayakers and boaters who try to get a closer look at the creatures. No human injuries have been reported, but "at least one sailboat was damaged this week when it struck a whale."

As for the whales, many groups have spoken out against boats coming too close to the mammals.

Whaling, an historically lucrative business around the world, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent decades. According to the Associated Press, Japan still catches a small number of whales annually, in a "research program opposed by activists who call it commercial whaling in disguise."

Despite an international moratorium on whaling in 1986, Iceland continues the practice. This summer, the U.S. threatened Iceland with "trade and diplomatic sanctions" for its ramped up commercial whaling that was resumed in 2006.

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[Elle7491]

A whales throat is about the size of a grapefruit I believe (Blue whale, humpback whale). So at worst, the surfer would be engulfed in the gullet of the whale and effectively spat back out, which if you ask me, would have made for a much better video.

[RAIDERS58th]

I bet the water around that girl suddenly became a lot warmer.

[SuperLouis05]

It's not every day that you see a rainbow on the news

[JesusHealsMarriages]

Thank God that the humpback whales didn't include her for lunge feeding!

[GeekSquadSupport]

Actually it is larger. And the largest arteries of the Blue Whale adult could have a small child crawl through them. But these whales don't try to engulf creatures of this size. They prefer much smaller. I agree, the video would be awesome if it had that in it.

[bmanjingo]

I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON SOOOOOOOO BADDDD

[BANE VICTOR]

PLease if your a animal lover take note. The Chief justice Alex kozinski of the 9th circuit court sided with japanese whalers to place a injunction agaist the sea sheppard and Paul watson to sease and assist all activites hindering the japanese whaling fleet from meaningless slaughter of 300 peaceful creatures who are considered endangered. Outrageous is the fact that chief justice Kozinski called the people trying to protect the whales pirates. Let out government know we side with nature.

[brn2wld]

I didn't know the population had increased that much. Thats fantastic.

[brn2wld]

Unless you know this for a fact then lets see YOU go for it!

[Cindy C]

incredible! wish I would have been there, maybe on shore😁😁😁amazing video!