Sea Lions: 23986, Oregon: 0

[zelda25]

We've got a sea lion problem. When they're not swimming way up the Columbia River and eating all the salmon (a whole other drama/controversy), they're taking over the docks in Astoria. Oregon doesn't have a stellar track record of dealing with problem coastal wildlife; this is the state that thought packing a dead and beached whale with dynamite was a good idea, which resulted in showering an entire town in whale blood and guts (youtu.be/xBgThvB_IDQ?list=PL20AF0A7EE84DB46F).

So now I bring you the latest sea lion folly, which is mostly hilarious for the pic at the bottom:

Sea Lions 1, Fake Orca 0

The Fake Orca of Astoria has failed in his mission to end a plague of sea lions.


Much like LeBron James, the fake orca of Astoria has failed in his mission to fix all the problems of one town on his own.



The fiber glass orca captivated the world as a solution to the growing number of sea lions who have taken over Astoria's docks, blocking locals from their boats. But when it finally launched this morning after engine trouble delayed its inaugural float, the once-proud fake orca, which was actually a boat with a man inside, was pushed over by the wake of a passing ship.




“Our crew from the port had to go rescue the operator so he didn’t drown,” said Jim Knight, executive director of the Port of Astoria, according to KOIN News.



The sea lions, who were silenced for a moment when the fake orca hit the water, resumed their loud lives as unbeatable winners as soon as the orca was defeated. No word on whether any of them will bring an adorable sea lion cub to a press conference about their victory.



Astoria officials say they might try take the fake orca out for another spin in August.



Oregonian reporter Andrew Theen tweeted the following:





And he would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for you meddling kids.

www.wweek.com/portland/blog-33304-sea_lions_1_fake_orca_0.html

[elleblue]

"And he would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for you meddling kids."

[LadySusan]

   That grumpy old man!

I don't know what to do about the sea lions.  Are they edible?  I've seen a sea lions as far inland as West Linn on the Willamette River.  It's crazy.

[insominac]

Omg. I can't stop laughing sitting here at the gate of the SLC airport. The picture at the end. That's exactly what a fake orca captain should look like.

[bugandbibs]

The news coverage has been cracking me up. Everyone's trying to be so serious while reporting from the docks, but you can barely hear them over the sea lion chatter.