Octopus Tales
On this rainy April morning, a giant octopus that is part of my cat Peekay’s collection of stuffed animal pals rests on a bench in my studio, her curious turquoise blue marble eyes alive with tales past and present about the secrets of octopuses great and small. Dense fog has transformed the woodland forest beyond the glass door into a cold underwater forest along the coast of Cape Town, South Africa where a common octopus captured the attention Craig Foster in 2018.
My Octopus Teacher, the 2020 Netflix documentary film directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed that resulted, shows the intimate relationship that developed as Foster followed her around the cold waters in False Bay for nearly a year. Foster and his octopus teacher form a mentor-like bond that taught him a lesson on the fragility of life and humanity’s connection with nature. What he learned from this remarkably intelligent and creative creature helped Foster reestablish a bond with his young son Tom while healing his own damaged spirit.
Since the award-winning South African nature documentary was released six years ago, I have watched it numerous times and continue to tell people I meet about it. My interest in learning the secrets of the octopus continued to grow when our May 2024 issue of National Geographic arrived with a cover story dedicated to these remarkable invertebrate sea creatures and “why they are so much more than meets the eye.” NG’s editor Nathan Lump recalls an octopus named Otto that became a 2008 news sensation. “At an aquarium in Germany, he began throwing rocks at the side of his tank and squirting water at the light above it to short-circuit the electrical system.” Why? Because he was bored.
The 2024 issue of NG on Secrets of the Octopus, plus a three-part series on the subject that streamed on Disney+, and a book by Sy Montgomery (with an excerpt in the issue) provide readers with the lessons that Craig Foster learned from his octopus mentor. “They are masters of camouflage, devoted parents, and problem-solving wizards.” And they are amazing escape artists.
While visiting the Earth Store in Nevada City with my friend Jeannie recently, I was reminded of the interest in octopuses shared by local artist Jerianne Van Dijk (www.jerrianneillustration.com). Every time I find one of her cards, I buy one and share it with friends who are also fascinated with these remarkable creatures. I left the store that day with a hand-drawn octopus tee shirt and a giant stuffed octopus that is now Peekay’s pal.
The April 2026 issue of NG that I wrote about last week features 33 explorers, icons, visionaries, and adventurers who are finding ways to change to world and save the environment. One visionary is Paolo Fanciulli—a fisherman in Tuscany saving octopuses with underwater museums that wreck nets that destroy sea grasses and reefs. He also commissions local students who make terra-cotta pots that are dropped by the thousands over fishing grounds where they entice octopuses that would otherwise seek shelter in fishermen’s plastic traps to hide in the pots.
Like the remarkable common octopus in My Octopus Teacher that hides from her enemies in faux pots she creates by pulling sea shells around her, Fanciulli is using artful pots to save octopuses being illegally harvested. Inspired and absolutely brilliant!
As I was shopping in a local market today, I stopped to buy a bag of almonds and discovered “Octonuts California: Goodness you can wrap your arms around.” On a package of Octonuts dry roasted sea salt almonds, I spotted the distinctive arms of an octopus. What’s the deal with the Octopus? The company says, “It’s flexible, curious, and like us, always hungry to try new things. The world inspired, and we delivered. Global flavors meet California Almonds. Dive in, because boring snacks are yesterday’s problem.”
Epicurious and ever curious. Love it!