Rogue Sea Lion Bites 14 People

[matcom]

<snip>

SAN FRANCISCO --A California sea lion has bitten at least 14 people and chased 10 others out of the water this week at a public park's lagoon, prompting the city to temporarily close the area to swimmers.

No serious injuries have been reported, but officials decided to ban swimming at the Aquatic Park Lagoon on Wednesday until the testy marine mammal has moved on.

Experts say the rogue sea lion could be protecting his harem of mates or might have brain damage from toxic algae.

Celeste McMullin, who was bitten Monday, said she saw the animal lurking nearby but didn't think much of it.

"I was swimming along, and I felt a brush under my feet. And I thought, 'These feel like whiskers.' So I stopped, and the animal popped up. He/she looked at me."

McMullin then tried to swim away, but the sea lion followed, biting and bumping her continuously until she made it back to shore. She ended up with six bites: two puncture wounds and four cuts.

Marine Mammal Center veterinarian Frances Gulland said the animal may soon leave the area and advised swimmers to avoid the lagoon in the meantime.

"The migration has started, and the animals are moving north to Washington state and Oregon," she said.

City health officials aren't recommending rabies shots, but victims were advised by the Marine Mammal Center to take antibiotics to ward off infection.

Aquatic Park Lagoon is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and not far from Fisherman's Wharf, where dozens of sea lions bask year-round on rocks below the pier and are a major tourist attraction.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2006/11/16/rogue_sea_lion_bites_at_least_14_in_sf?mode=PF

[taterguy]

1. How do they know these aren't organized attacks?

Perhaps their little revolution has started. Here's a pic of them plotting and scheming how to overthrow their human oppressors

[BrotherBuzz]

10. Indeed, they are plotting and scheming,

and even infiltrating our first line of defense with plans to kidnap humans. Soon they'll be stealing CHP uniforms!

[Auggie]

2. "Brain damage from toxic algae"... What a sad possibility

[Parche]

3. sea lion

Did he do it on porpoise or just for the halibut???

[LadyoftheRabbits]

7. ...

:rofl: :thumbsup:

[Patiod]

4. There were big warnings at the seal beach in San Simeon

The warning signs even included newspaper stories about people who ended up in the ER because they got too close to the seals.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Those are elephant seals --- I wouldn't want to tangle with one of those.

Adult male sea lions weigh about 500 lbs; adult male elephant seal, 3 or 4 tons. Even immature males outweigh sea lions by quite a bit.

Come to think of it, I wouldn't want to tangle with a sea lion either.

[Patiod]

9. God, I'm such a hopeless East Coaster

Figures we spent an hour watching them, and I didn't learn the difference between a sea lion and an elephant seal (but boy, I sure did internalize the warnings about them biting!!!!!)

New Jersey is pretty much seal-free - we get the rare lost Arctic seal, but that's about it.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Who swims in the lagoon at Aquatic Park? Yuck.

The sea lion is providing a public service by driving them out of the water.:wow:

[MrCoffee]

6. they're moving north...they're coming to get me.