Hikers love to trade stories about surprise animal sightings, from bears to moose to the mercurial cougar or wolverine.

　　But a small group of hikers in Bellingham, Wash., stumbled on an animal they never expected while exploring a local trail: a giant Pacific octopus. Bellingham photographer Micah Moeller posted several videos of the encounter on Reddit threads for Bellingham, initially asking for help identifying the specific species.

　　The videos, quickly shared across social media, drew thousands of likes and comments, many of which expressed envy at encountering a rare marine creature while hiking.

　　That is so cool! Moeller and his friends exclaim breathlessly while filming the octopus.

　　Moeller and his friends found the octopus while exploring Clark’s Point on Chuckanut Bay, which flows to Bellingham Bay and eventually to the Pacific Ocean.Clarks Point is one of many access points to the saltwater inlets that weave through northwestern Washington.

　　The area is close enough to Bellingham that locals can bike or hike there during a lunch break, according to GearJunkie Senior Editor and Bellingham resident Nick Belcaster.

　　As for the giant Pacific octopus, these granddaddies of the octopus family can measure 20 feet across and weigh more than 50 pounds.

　　Still want more video of the octopus? We dont blame you. Check out another video posted to Reddit by Moeller with a different angle of this beautiful and intelligent animal.

　　The octopus species can be found throughout the Pacific Ocean, from Korea and Japan to the coastlines of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

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