Fake orca nearly drowns before it can scare Oregon sea lions
The Columbian
Published: June 5, 2015, 12:00am
Share:
The fake life-sized fiberglass orca passes the Lady Washington as it continues down the Columbia River toward the East End Mooring Basin on Thursday in Astoria, Ore. An effort to use a fake orca to scare off hundreds of sea lions crowding docks off the Oregon coast has ended, at least temporarily, with the fiberglass creature belly-up after it was swamped by a passing ship.
PORTLAND — When a 32-foot replica killer whale buzzed through the water to scare off hundreds of sea lions piled on an Oregon dock, onlookers cheered. And then the dummy orca went belly-up.
The motorized fiberglass orca was brought to the seaside town of Astoria on Thursday as a sort of maritime Clint Eastwood — called upon to deal with ne’er-do-wells, in this case sea lions crowding onto docks and making it difficult for locals to access their boats.
But the orca’s first day on the job was a flop.
About 1,000 people cheered as the dummy whale — with its human operator inside — took to the water Thursday night. Jim Knight, executive director of the Port of Astoria, said sea lions that were crowded onto the docks became “deathly silent.”
As a cargo ship passed by, the phony orca started to list from the vessel’s wake. And then the bogus orca capsized.
“Our crew from the port had to go rescue the operator so he didn’t drown,” Knight said.
So what did the sea lions thing about this spectacle?
“They probably think it’s dead now that it’s belly up,” Knight said. “You can’t make this stuff up.”
That was not the first fiasco for the dummy orca.
The replica whale — loaned by a whale-watching business — was delivered overland on Thursday from Bellingham, Washington. After arrival, the orca’s outboard motor flooded and a replacement had to be found.
Sea lion numbers along the West Coast have grown sharply since they were protected under a 1972 federal law. The sea lions who have been taking over docks at the Port of Astoria are attracted by runs of a fish known as smelt, federal biologists say.
While the thousands of tourists who visit Astoria each year might find the sea lions amusing, many locals see them as a nuisance.
Officials have tried just about everything to keep the sea lions away — including beach balls, colorful tape, chicken wire and electrified mats.
The fake orca was outfitted with recordings of real killer whale calls, especially the “call to dinner” — usually emitted in the wild after they kill a sea lion or seal.
The orca capsized before the recording could be tried out.
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
