Image of California two-spot octopus

Description:

"octopus was on the shore near the entrance to the marina. It was found with two mangled arms. One arm was amputated nearly to the head. I requested assistance from a local who picked it up by head to place it back in the water. The octopus made what best can be described as a ""growl"" noise, arched up its arms, and ejected a rust colored ink (I have a video of the interaction). This caused my assistant to release the octopus prematurely- short of being submerged. A piece of drift wood was used to lift and nudge the octopus to a depth at which it could be fully submerged and safe from the audience of gulls that had gathered during the 6 minutes that this transaction took place. I am not aware whether these are injuries incompatible with life for an octopus. I walked away from it alive."