Don't ever try to steal a fur seal's woman-just ask David Schultz. The wildlife, landscape, and nature photographer, based in Park City, Utah, has had some close calls during his photography tenure, but it was on one of his polar expeditions to South Georgia Island where man came face to face with a ferocious (and territorial) beast. "The beaches here at this time of year are breeding grounds for fur seals," he explains. "All of the bulls are staking out their territory and trying to keep other bulls from coming ashore. They're usually confronting each other right at the water's edge. On one particular trip, I was photographing some penguins with my back to the surf, and this very large fur seal came charging up right out of a wave. I didn't see it until Woody, one of the other expedition members, shouted, 'David, look out!' I didn't even have to look-I just dove. The seal went on a rampage and smashed my video camera-I guess my backside looked like competition! Needless to say, I ended up buying a lot of beers for Woody during that voyage."
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