Rogue Seal Bullies Surfer, Pit Bull
JENNER, Calif. (April 12) - Nibbles the elephant seal is defying his tame nickname by killing smaller seals, menacing a kayaker and chomping on a surfer and a dog on the northern California coast.
An elephant seal nicknamed "Nibbles" swims near the mouth of a river Wednesday in California. The adolescent seal has been attacking other seals and surfers.
The 2,000-pound lone male is seen frequently at the Russian River outlet to the Pacific, and local marine recreational outlets are warning the public about the seal's aggression.
On Easter Sunday, the seal grabbed an 80-pound pit bull and only let her go after he was attacked by the dog's owner.
"I was throwing a stick in the water for the dog," Angel Garcia said. The dog "started to shake when this torpedo thing launched itself out of the water and grabbed her."
On Easter Sunday, the seal grabbed an 80-pound pit bull and only let her go after he was attacked by the dog's owner.
"I was throwing a stick in the water for the dog," Angel Garcia said. The dog "started to shake when this torpedo thing launched itself out of the water and grabbed her."
On Tuesday, Nibbles growled at a kayaker, scaring him out of the water, said Suki Waters of Water Treks, a kayaking tour company. Surf shop worker Craig Henderson said the seal and local surfers share the same turf. "It is scary when he jumps in the water with you. He is huge, like a VW bug or something," he said.
Brit Horn, a California State Parks lifeguard, said the seal has been seen killing smaller harbor seals. They've now moved to other areas along the Sonoma County coast.
The elephant seal is an adolescent who likely hangs out alone at the river mouth because he is too small to compete for females at elephant seal colonies, Horn said. Adults can grow to 14 feet long and 4,500 pounds.
I'll be the first to say I'd like to try and catch this seal and bring it back to The Compound. For the past six months, we've been plagued by two Pit Bull dogs that live in the house across the street. It's got the neighborhood in a frenzy, and rightly so. When any of us go to the mailbox or go get the newspaper, or just go outside, we either carry a loaded gun or a Louisville Slugger. This morning, the Old Man and I went on a safari just to get the newspaper -- I had a loaded semi-automatic pistol with me and had Dad in the passenger seat of the Blazer, and I pulled within three inches of the newspaper boxes while he leaned out of the window and grabbed Miss Rosemary's and our newspapers - all the while one of the Pit Bulls from across the street was on the loose.
Brit Horn, a California State Parks lifeguard, said the seal has been seen killing smaller harbor seals. They've now moved to other areas along the Sonoma County coast.
The elephant seal is an adolescent who likely hangs out alone at the river mouth because he is too small to compete for females at elephant seal colonies, Horn said. Adults can grow to 14 feet long and 4,500 pounds.
I'll be the first to say I'd like to try and catch this seal and bring it back to The Compound. For the past six months, we've been plagued by two Pit Bull dogs that live in the house across the street. It's got the neighborhood in a frenzy, and rightly so. When any of us go to the mailbox or go get the newspaper, or just go outside, we either carry a loaded gun or a Louisville Slugger. This morning, the Old Man and I went on a safari just to get the newspaper -- I had a loaded semi-automatic pistol with me and had Dad in the passenger seat of the Blazer, and I pulled within three inches of the newspaper boxes while he leaned out of the window and grabbed Miss Rosemary's and our newspapers - all the while one of the Pit Bulls from across the street was on the loose.
The dogs are chained outside and get loose during the day when their owner is at work, and when one of them is spotted roaming around, the phone chain starts with neighbors alerting each other. And in the evenings, when people want to get out and work in their yards, at least one person in each family stands guard with a loaded gun or baseball bat in case one of the dogs charge at them. Believe me when I tell you I'm not exagerating on this. I'm a witness to this firsthand.
We've called the animal control people but they've been unable to catch the dogs. We've warned their owner time and time again but to no avail. One neighbor called the police when one of the dogs had him up against a fence in his own yard; the police simply told him to shoot the dog if it ever threatened him. Now, you'd think that maybe the cops would have called the animal control people right then and there? But I digress. It's just a sad day when we have to arm ourselves just to go out in our backyards. But I'll do whatever I have to do to keep my sweet mother safe when she goes out every morning to get the newspaper, even if that means walking alongside of her while carrying a loaded gun.
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