Great White Sharks Spotted At Channel Islands National Park: Swim At Your Own Peril

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on June 30, 2010 - 11:00pm

While there are plenty of bear warnings posted in national parks, it's not that often you hear about a great white shark warning, but that's the situation at Santa Barbara Island in Channel Islands National Park.

On Wednesday park officials issued a release stating that great white sharks had been seen attacking sea lions near Santa Barbara Island. And they said if you want to go swimming off the island, you do so at your own risk.

There have been three attacks on California sea lions by great white sharks in the past few months including one at the Santa Barbara Island Landing Cove and two offshore of Cat Canyon on the southeast side of the island.

The public is duly warned to enter the water at their own risk at Santa Barbara Island due to a potential safety hazard effective June 30, 2010, and until further notice.