US /

As Last Resort, Community Gets Fake Killer Whale

Oregon port has serious sea-lion problem
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 25, 2015 2:30 PM CDT
As Last Resort, Community Gets Fake Killer Whale
OK, so this is a real whale off the coast of California.   (AP Photo/ Captain David Anderson's Dolphin and Whale Safari)

An Oregon community is bringing in some unusual help to try to fix their sea lion problem. They're hoping a fake killer whale from Bellingham, Wash., will do the trick. Terry Buzzard of Island Mariner Cruises has used the life-size mock orca to promote his business during parades and events, KING-TV reports. Then he heard about Astoria's sea lion problems and offered to help. Hundreds of sea lions have taken over the docks in Astoria, preventing boat owners from using their slips.

Buzzard says he doesn't know if the fake orca will scare away the sea lions when it arrives in a few weeks: "It's just kind of a fun, crazy thing to do," he says. "If it doesn't look [enough] like an orca whale and they call our bluff, then I guess they'll sit there and thumb their noses at us." The Port of Astoria has tried using electrified mats, but those aren't working. They've also considered fences. At worst, Buzzard says the fake orca will be an amusing distraction for the humans. (More whale stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X