A researcher conducting field work on a long-term ocean shark study shepherded a wayward deer swimming in the ocean in Monterey Bay, California, to shore on May 9 as a shark circled both animal and boat, observing their movements.

Sean Van Sommeran shot the footage from his boat, describing how seeing a deer swimming in the ocean was a rare occurrence, but nonetheless it’s the second one to be spotted recently taking a dip. He also describes how he tried to position himself between the deer and the shark as he steered the deer to shore. Credit: Sean Van Sommeran via Storyful