Video: Giant Pacific Octopus Rescued on Oregon Beach

Beachgoers in Oregon caught an extremely rare sight earlier this month when a giant Pacific octopus found itself stranded on shore. But thanks to the quick rescue efforts of a local wildlife organization, the octopus was returned to the ocean unharmed.

The octopus washed up on Cannon Beach, about an hour and a half northwest of Portland, after it was believed to have been carried in by the tide and then stuck as the tide pools receded. A visitor who happened across the creature contacted the Haystack Rock Awareness Program, which then came out to help it make its way back to the ocean.

"Seeing a giant Pacific octopus alive is a pretty rare encounter, so it’s safe to say our staff was pretty excited," the organization wrote in a Facebook post. 

Staff members quickly assessed the situation and then worked together to decide on the best way to safely and efficiently get the octopus back into deeper water. Other than being stranded on the sandy shore, the organization notes that the octopus did not show any signs of physical injury. 

Video of the rescue was captured and uploaded to the Experience Cannon Beach Facebook page. 

"You can see the excitement, joy, and enthusiasm that the HRAP team has for protecting the creatures of the ocean and how they were swift to focus on assisting the octopus back to the deep water," read a caption on the video. All told, it took about five minutes to get the octopus back into the ocean.

The octopus was on the smaller side, estimated to have been about five feet in length. However, fully grown adult giant Pacific octopi can weigh over 30 pounds with a radial span of anywhere from seven to more than 13 feet. Those on the larger side have been known to weigh over 100 pounds with a radial span of 20 feet.

The Haystack Rock Awareness Program notes that anyone who comes across stranded or injured wildlife should contact their local wildlife authority. As for the octopus that washed up on the beach that day, it has not been reencountered since being returned to the ocean.