Sea Monsters

Sea Lions are definitely in the McMicken and North Hartstene Island area - we see and hear them just a few feet from shore up by the Indian Cove Marina and on both sides of the North end of Hartstene Island. The seals and sea lions are very active here in the spring. I have seen as many as 50 or so seals swimming across from McMicken to Heron Island also in the spring. Curiously my dog is fooled by the sea lion's apparent small size [above water] and tried to pull me out there to play. I have seen them be aggressive when sea kayaker unknown to me approached their play spot in the water. I would not plan to argue about their space. Boat US a year ago or so had a photo of 30 or more sea lions laying on sailboat that they nearly sank just by their weight. The resorted to electric fence to keep them off.

We have sea otters play often on our dock and boats at Indian Cove [just north of Jarrells cove]. They could make some thumping noises on your boat but they have a small mass and shouldn't actually rock the boat that much compared to a sea lion.

Just a month ago at Mc Micken, I watched 4 eagles 2 male and 2 females eat a salmon on the beach- the biggest male ate first of course but he did share it with the next sized male and two females. One bird ate at a time while the others perched on low branch on beach and repelled the crows. I had never seen eagles have any pack type of cooperation.

Jim on Endurance
 
This last summer I was speaking with one of the Indian elders in preparation for the up-coming Canoe Journey and he told me of a time when he and his crew landed on the Dungeness Spit, out not far from the lighthouse for a "nature break" when a large Sea Lion bull came out of the water and attacked their canoe, biting it at teh upturned, pointed, stern section. It bit hard enough to leave tooth marks, and grabbed the edge, shaking the whole canoe. Fearing the canoe would be severely damaged, he grabbed a paddle and counter attacked the animal. He said it required several hits on the head to drive it off the canoe, and to retreat into the water. We have been around that area and on occasion, have seen a huge bull hauled out on the beach there. He is always by himself, and if you approach the beach too close he will always turn towards you and raise his head, offering up something of a "This is my space" message that is probably dually heeded.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I've have friends who have had harbor seals and sea lions jump into their boats. The sea lion was escaping killer whales and the seal was escaping a shark of undetermined species. I have been fortunate that my boat so far has been pinniped free. I did however have a mighty scary latenight experience on the boat. One night in a hole in PWS I was awakened by the boat lurching sideways and loud scraping sounds. The wind was blowing hard and an iceberg washed against the boat. Nothing was damaged but it was quite an invigorating experience.
 
As unlikely as it may seem the most plausible of those explanations is, in fact the giant squid. Once when a guest on a custom built craft (Nautilus I think was her name); my wife uh, Morgan Fairchild, yea, that's it Morgan Fairchild and I were accosted by just such a creature. Then suddenly Kirk Douglas appeared in a funky striped shirt with a guitar he couldn't play. The rest as they say is history.
 
In Washington, while fishing, it is legal to harass sea lions to keep them from interfering with your catch. Approved and suggested methods are paint ball guns and pyrotechnic noisemakers (large firecrackers). Such harassment should not result in bleeding from the ears or bulging of the eyes or other permanently disfiguring marks. These were the methods shared with me by the WDFW (Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife) & ODFW (Oregon's Dept. of Fish and Wildlife) managers and biologists two years ago while attending one of our regular meetings as an appointed Citizens Advisory Group Member for the last five years.

When a large, carnivorous, heavy boned and thick hided California or Stellar (Northern Fur Seal) Sea Lion boards my boat, I am ready to challenge the validity of the Marine Mammal protection act of 1968. There has been enough documented harassment by these stinky, large, hungry beasts with mouths like grizzly bears against people that I would not hesitate to use "any means necessary" to protect the safety of those in my charge and on my craft.

CW
 
CW":18a9zfqr said:
In Washington, while fishing, it is legal to harass sea lions to keep them from interfering with your catch. Approved and suggested methods are paint ball guns and pyrotechnic noisemakers (large firecrackers). Such harassment should not result in bleeding from the ears or bulging of the eyes or other permanently disfiguring marks. These were the methods shared with me by the WDFW (Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife) & ODFW (Oregon's Dept. of Fish and Wildlife) managers and biologists two years ago while attending one of our regular meetings as an appointed Citizens Advisory Group Member for the last five years.

When a large, carnivorous, heavy boned and thick hided California or Stellar (Northern Fur Seal) Sea Lion boards my boat, I am ready to challenge the validity of the Marine Mammal protection act of 1968. There has been enough documented harassment by these stinky, large, hungry beasts with mouths like grizzly bears against people that I would not hesitate to use "any means necessary" to protect the safety of those in my charge and on my craft.

CW
Click to expand...

So a .40 Glock would be approved. Trust me, it won't bleed...from the ears or eyes and any marks left won't be disfiguring since the creature will be dead and, at that point, not care about it's looks.
 
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