News from the hot Northwest

The sea lion population has grown dramatically on the west coast since 1972, when the animals became a protected species under federal law.  As water temperatures increase off the coast of California, sea lions are spreading north into Oregon and Washington. The fishing is better here.

At the Port of Astoria, over 2,000 sea lions have taken over the docks. They laze around without a care in the world, digesting the expensive salmon they catch nearby at the mouth of the Columbia River. The tourists might find the sea lions amusing but the locals see them as a nuisance.  They smell bad, poop everywhere, and block access to boats.

They've tried all sorts of creative and mildly sadistic ways to chase them off, like electrified pads on the docks. It didn't work.  But now, there's a dummy killer whale named "Fake Willy."

This fiberglass orca belongs to Terry Buzzard of Island Mariner Cruises. He uses it to promote his business during parades and events. When he heard about Astoria's problems, he called the port officials and offered his big marketing prop to scare the animals away.  They said, why not?  Give it a try.

So the whale was hauled down on a trailer from Bellingham, and it took to the water on Thursday night before the news cameras and a large crowd.

Jim Knight, the executive director of the Port of Astoria, said the sea lions that were crowded on the dock became "deathly silent" when they first saw Fake Willy.  Then they started making a racket. No one knows if it was fear, or "har har har."

The fake orca was outfitted with recordings of real killer whale sounds, including the "call to dinner" they make in the wild after they kill a sea lion or seal.

But then... a cargo ship passed by and the phony orca started to list from the vessel's wake.

Ops. The bogus Willy capsized before the recording could be tried out.  There were some tense moments.

"Our crew from the port had to go rescue the operator so he didn't drown," Jim Knight said.

Doh! Back to the drawing board.