Daily Pilot: Wearing out welcome (in "The O.C.")

[question everything]

Published September 9, 2005

Wearing out welcome

Sea lions in Newport Harbor are blamed for keeping residents up at night and even sinking a sailboat. The Harbor Patrol says not much can be done about it.

By Lauren Vane, Daily Pilot

The sea lions are back in Newport Harbor, and they're not the only ones barking.

Harbor residents say the sea lions are destroying property and peace and quiet. But the sea lions are protected mammals, which limits actions by the Harbor Patrol.

The sea lions' barking is keeping residents awake at night. And over Labor Day weekend, a group of sea lions climbed aboard a boat and sunk it under their weight.

(snip)

The harbor is currently home to five "aggressive" bull sea lions who are helping themselves to sunning spots on boats moored in the harbor, said Sgt. John Whitman of the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol.

(snip)

When the Harbor Patrol receives a call complaining of sea lions on a private boat, the sea lions usually leave once the Harbor Patrol boat gets too close, Whitman said. "As soon as we leave the area, they jump right back on," Whitman said.

The Harbor Patrol discourages using any type of sharp deterrent that could harm the animal. Instead, a wedge block of wood, affixed to the swim steps, can prevent the sea lion from climbing onto the boat, Whitman said.

(snip)

http://www.dailypilot.com/front/story/23859p-33961c.html

* LAUREN VANE covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at [phone] or [e-mail].

[Missy M]

1. I guess it is hard for some people to understand that...

Sea Lions live in the sea. I think it's funny they are sunning themselves on the boats. That little guy in the picture sure looks cute. I am tired of the overindulged people always complaining.

[bertha katzenengel]

4. Hear, hear, Missy M!

"The sea lions' barking is keeping residents awake at night." Oh, poor babies! :eyes:

[ret5hd]

2. Dammit...these pesky animals keep disturbing my enjoyment of nature!

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Exactly

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[bertha katzenengel]

3. question everything, could you do me a big favor, please?

I'm a native of Orange County, CA, and I find any connection of my home county with the tv show "The O.C." more offensive than the show itself. No one back home calls the county "The O.C." It's just fucking Orange County.

So maybe you could change your subject line to read "(in Orange County, CA)"

A humble request from an extremely irritated California native. :)

By the way, here's a fun factoid about the Daily Pilot: On March 1, 1972, the newspaper was dated "February 30, 1972."

[question everything]

7. I know. used to live there, too

just wanted to throw this for the benefits of those who do not know that "the O.C." means Newport Beach.

Funny, though, if one looks at the home page of the main daily now - the Orange County Register - it has a lot of the O.C. this and the O.C. that.

Heck, even one of the supervisors wanted to exchange the Duke - John Wayne - for the O.C. in naming the airport. And this is one of the saner supe.

OK, will try to keep your request in mind :evilgrin:

[bertha katzenengel]

10. I may be overly sensitive on the issue.

It really chaps my ass.

:hi:

[kittenpants]

5. awww, how can anyone be mad at a sea lion? so cute!

[ohio_liberal]

6. I know!

They're so adorable. I can't imagine being mad at them.

[bluedawg12]

8. Damn the nerve: biodiversity! pish.

F*cking entitled, sailboat driving, faux conservationist hypocrites of this world.

Clear the g*ddamned ocean of sea life- they are interfering with my daily outing with Muffy and the RNC gang.

Leave the animals in peace- you have screwed up the world as it is.