Last weekend I traveled to the Oregon coast following the Columbia River. When we could pull over and see the boats both freighters entering and leaving from Overseas, and some sport boats running around. I knew the Fall Chinook were migrating upstream and we would see whats happening.
I could hear the yelping and roaring of the all too familiar Sea Lion. So pretty soon I had the picture straight. The parking lot seemed empty, and the mooring basin had no boats. Then we walked a ways to the boat slips and saw this sight.
(http://i1344.photobucket.com/albums/p660/gst6814/038_zpshq8mtlzg.jpg) (http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/gst6814/media/038_zpshq8mtlzg.jpg.html)
This big boy seemed like the ringleader. Ya he's mighty handsome and has nice teeth, but theres more!
(http://i1344.photobucket.com/albums/p660/gst6814/017_zpsfuxkqift.jpg) (http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/gst6814/media/017_zpsfuxkqift.jpg.html)
Say you want to check something on your boat? Here are the harems Guards, to meet you an the bottom of the ramp!
(http://i1344.photobucket.com/albums/p660/gst6814/035_zps8bqiax5j.jpg) (http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/gst6814/media/035_zps8bqiax5j.jpg.html)
So Maybe you realize that you are outnumbered and will try some other time.
(http://i1344.photobucket.com/albums/p660/gst6814/019_zpsw0dmginz.jpg) (http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/gst6814/media/019_zpsw0dmginz.jpg.html)
This is a Public Dock, Built for Boats and Maintained by Taxpayers Money Totally Useless Except for a Weigh In and Bark Festival!
What went wrong? or Right? Did anyone listen to the local knowledge of the Old Timers? I call this Crazy!
agreed gary, nice sight for nature, but bad for humans. here in new york they are blaming them for the decrease in the flounder population, we don't see alot of them like your pictures, but it seems like they are diving down and eating the flounder. oh and yes the recreational fisherman gets blamed for over fishing. take care halibut king. harryk
Well the knuckle head in the first pic may be the ring leader but he also went and got himself some ring around the collar.
Note the noose necktie he's wearing. Done cut into his hide. Shows in the next photo, too. Seems like local vets would tranq it and cut that off?
Yes Steeveeo; I didnt notice the ring around the collar!!! It may be only pinching his fat. But you are right something could be done at a arms reach! Last time I visited this dock there were a bunch of boats tied to the docks. The boaters have wisely given up and the city planners are still out to lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: Steve-O on October 06, 2015, 04:47:37 AM
Well the knuckle head in the first pic may be the ring leader but he also went and got himself some ring around the collar.
Note the noose necktie he's wearing. Done cut into his hide. Shows in the next photo, too. Seems like local vets would tranq it and cut that off?
Looks to me that it's already removed and that's the scar.
This sealion takeover also happened at pier 39 in SF, the tourists loved it so they let them take over that part of the marina, now it's an attraction. Fact is these animals are only going back to the area they have been using for thousands of years, the area where pier 39 is was their old home base before the Bay Area was settled.
$ and taxes may trump nature at times but it keeps coming back.
Moss landing and Monterey harbours look just like this. We had a 3 million dollar dock installed 6 yrs ago and since that time there has not been one boat able to use it, it turned into a beachhead for fur bags. Last week I motored past on my way out and it appears someone took the dock out, then I noticed a floating barge loaded with fur, and lo and behold it's the new dock, broken loose and floating around in the Harbor with no less than a hundred of them on it. The only good note is that the invasion is stil about 12 piers away from mine. i have not seen a single fur bag on my dock.
Shameful
This is where the over protectors really screw up. Other countries eat them while we protect them because they a cute salmon thieves. What a joke we are.
Yea, I deal with them in Alaska each year and now and then get to hear stories from the Tlingit islanders harvesting them. One year we smelled something awful at the mouth of the river. Sure enough one dead in the bushes. Head shot.
Last year I met a little butterball of a native kid hanging around the bay we were fishing at and he wanted to visit with me about "everything" including "did I like eating seal oil?"
I said no, never tried it.
he said, It's my favorite!
I smiled thinking good onya kid and whoever harvested the seal.
When man and animal compete for the same food the animal is the enemy. When you protect the enemy you become a certified idiot.
We have not had a bear season in Fl for quite a while and the population has gotten way out of control. They are roaming the cities, killing pets and attacking people. This year the FWC approved a bear hunting season and sold permits for the first time in 21 years. With all the problems we have had a large group of people have tried to get the courts to stop the bear season. More idiots. Do these people come from other planets or what?
Yes it was a sight to wonder where did we go wrong? Maybe have a Fenced, Gated, Mooring Slips available. Like at peoples Condos? They are Federally protected as a marine mammal so there is limitations as to harrassment and stiff penaltys to pay if Caught'.
But keep pouring concrete and building more boat ramps and docks, and signs does not seem to be the answer!
Where did these lions rest before man? Seems like a waste of taxpayers money!
Quote from: mrbrklyn on October 10, 2015, 06:57:51 AM
Quote from: Newell Nut on October 10, 2015, 12:41:21 AM
When man and animal compete for the same food the animal is the enemy. When you protect the enemy you become a certified idiot.
I feels so sorry for you. My heart bleeds that the Sea Lions are being inconvient in their natural environment, that is salt water deep water harbors. I'm sure that in other countries they would just eat them, like Japan for example.
that doesn't make it smart, humane, good for the environment or healthy... but so be it. Your gonna have to make room for other species in the environment, otherwise you can stop the planet and get off.
and you can fish in a bathtube.
mrbrklyn then maybe you should stop injuring the fish & taking fish home, you are stealing the sea lions dinner. Better you take your advice & fish in your bathtub.
Quote from: Newell Nut on October 09, 2015, 08:10:39 PM
This is where the over protectors really screw up. Other countries eat them while we protect them because they a cute salmon thieves. What a joke we are.
that reminds me of an episode of bizzarre foods with andrew zimmerman. In it he eats seal steak fried in butter. It looked pretty darn good -- indistinguishable from any red meat mammal. I have a sort of a fascination with "exotic foods," so will try most anything at least once.
I was just reading about the hunting of seals in other countries to manage the numbers on another forum. They maintain a healthy balance in nature since over protection of a predator is a foolish venture as we attempt to do. The natural habitat for them here was quite adequate until the over protection. Now the numbers are too great for their natural habitat and they have to find homes on public docks and become a handicap to all that enjoy the outdoors.
Im sure we as responsible law abiding are dependent on our local, state, and federal government for the answer. Its quite possible their silence and skirting around the issues are their defense. It may get better or worse. Or stay this way forever! I,m not against growing more fish either so there will be more for all the user groups. But that has many more problems I dont want to think about.
If bring this topic to the forum causes too much controversy I am sorry. I wanted to bring notice to paradise lost.
Gary, you don't have anything to apologize about, you're a very good member and I'm glad you're here with us.
i just want everything to stay civil.
There is one less in the Bay at Alcatraz. The little guy is having a Blast.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Tourists-record-great-white-shark-devouring-seal-6566229.php
There is more to these issues than it always seems but the root has been man destroying habitat for Seals (development) and fish habitat (Dams and deforestation) or human harvesting for money.
Seals had populations in the millions to go with 10's of millions of Salmon...before seals were hunted and dams were built.
Its not the seals fault. Its our fault.
However, we are in a middle period where Seal populations are returning...along with GW Shark "predation events" on people as Seals return to habitat they previously were driven out of (shore of our state).
Unfortunately more people are going to be hurt by Seals (<<--more and more aggressive) or eaten or hurt by Sharks before this problem gets another "solution" that us fallible humans attempt.
Any animal that losses it's fear of humans is dangerous. Any dangerous animal should be destroyed when parasitizing humans or endangering them. Eventually (just like bears in Yosemite) some seals will be destroyed.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on October 12, 2015, 08:20:55 PM
There is one less in the Bay at Alcatraz. The little guy is having a Blast.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Tourists-record-great-white-shark-devouring-seal-6566229.php
Who's going to sign up for the Alcatraz swim-to-shore?
Quote from: Shark Hunter on October 12, 2015, 08:20:55 PM
There is one less in the Bay at Alcatraz. The little guy is having a Blast.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Tourists-record-great-white-shark-devouring-seal-6566229.php
Oh yea! wasn't sure if "the little guy" reference was the seal, the shark or other....until I watched it...like the redhead said " that's the greatest thing I've seen in my life!"
My dealings with them is minimal and like anything else unpleasant in my life - I make lemonade and get on with it.
I have to go along with you on this one Gary! Up in Cape Cod they really count on the summer tourism. The beaches are filthy with seals and excrement. Unfortunately the peoples businesses have nose dived! The flounder and Stripped bass population is dwindling as these critters can eat 35 lbs of fish a day or more. The seals are all over Monomoy and can be seen chasing and eating Striped Bass all day long. I have a friend that lives up there and only a small number of great whites that show up to feed on these things make it into the news. There's more than they're willing to talk about. The last 5 or so years they have been showing up in the Race and when that happens the fishing is totally done.
We're stuck with the situation and It's gonna get worse before it gets better!
Thanks for posting .. Lou
No one on here has said anything about the Cormorants. These darn birds eat their weight in Baby Flounder & other small fish on a daily basis. They can dive maybe 20' with no problem.
Mike
Quote from: mrbrklyn on October 17, 2015, 10:11:15 AM
Quote from: Newell Nut on October 11, 2015, 05:47:45 PM
Now the numbers are too great for their natural habitat \.
that is just not true.
Unfortunately with NE Pacific sealions it is true.
Quote from: Keta on October 17, 2015, 02:26:50 PM
Quote from: mrbrklyn on October 17, 2015, 10:11:15 AM
Quote from: Newell Nut on October 11, 2015, 05:47:45 PM
Now the numbers are too great for their natural habitat \.
that is just not true.
Unfortunately with NE Pacific sealions it is true.
Well, yes and no.... ;)
With warming Eastern Pacific waters this year then many marine animals are in extremis as food sources are not available (but the Tuna have been gorging on Red crabs) due to this rare event (El Nino). So sea lion pups have had a rough go of it this summer with many starving.
BUT, fundamentally, all populations of marine crittters were 10X higher before we arrived and started harvesting the Ocean for $$$$ or building dams for $$$$ to fuel urban development.
So if any marine animal is negatively affecting populations of its prey, it is only because we screwed the balance up.
Not as high of numbers as today and not as far upriver as Celilo Falls/Bonneville Dam or Willamette Falls. The natives killed them as often as possible and used them back then, they are 100% protected now and are pounding threatened and endangered fish runs in the Pacific NW. Our bay flounder have almost disappeared too.
Come to Oregon and visit Astoria, Newport or Portland and see for yourself. Our harbor seals are also being harmed by the over abundance of sealions. It's so bad that they have finally started allowing some sealions to be shot, but we need a 30%-50% reduction in sealions. Research "Hershel" and Ballard Locks in WA.
really? What was the sealion population in 1100?
[/quote] Where did you get a certified report from 1100. Was that BC or AD ?
Quote from: mrbrklyn on October 21, 2015, 09:59:38 AM
Quote from: Keta on October 17, 2015, 02:26:50 PM
Quote from: mrbrklyn on October 17, 2015, 10:11:15 AM
Quote from: Newell Nut on October 11, 2015, 05:47:45 PM
Now the numbers are too great for their natural habitat \.
that is just not true.
Unfortunately with NE Pacific sealions it is true.
really? What was the sealion population in 1100?
Not a reliable baseline figure. Conditions have changed.
Here's a good status summary...
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41666/0
and an excerpt..
"Exploitation during the 19th and 20th centuries caused population reductions. The distribution range has not changed since the exploitation era but population numbers have increased mainly in California where the population estimate is around 238,000. The population in Mexico occupies both side of the Baja California Peninsula: the west coast has an estimated population of 75,000 – 87,000, whereas the Gulf of California population is near 30,000. The total population of California sea lions is therefore around 355,000 individuals. The population in California is reaching carrying capacity. Some colonies in the Central Gulf of California have declined by approximately 35% in the last 15 years."