That’s what Orange County sheriff’s Deputies James Slikker, Tracy Sizemore and Chris Corn saw last week when their boat started acting oddly after they took on a sea lion as a passenger. The boat’s emergency lights and other equipment were going on and off randomly when it lurched to the side suddenly and seemed to be steering itself, sheriff’s officials said.
The three deputies had just left a Newport Harbor dock after responding to calls of juveniles smoking pot and a young sea lion trying to bite people. They tied up the boat while they checked the dock. The sea lion, which was snapping at people, refused to stay in the water when the deputies tried to shoo it away.
Eventually, the deputies decided to put the sea lion into the fire boat and take it out to sea, where they would try to set it free. They headed out to sea, but the sea lion had other plans — as John McDonald, sheriff’s spokesman, posted on the department’s blog.
While deputies maneuvered the boat at the main controls, the sea lion took a seat at the foul-weather station, a secondary control station for the boat.
“It ran into the driver’s seat, flapped its flipper, turned the lights on and honked the horn,” Slikker said.
At one point, the sea lion was able to get the throttle to go full speed — in reverse.
“Now we were backing on the bay,” Slikker said.
The sea lion got out of the chair eventually and deputies were able to steer back to headquarters, where, with a few sprays from the hose, they were able to induce the stowaway to abandon ship.
Deputies have received several calls about sea lions this year, especially since several of them have been reported to be getting sick, filling the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
Deputies contacted Animal Control and Friends of Sea Lions, but they were unable to respond.
The sea lion eventually went back in the water and out to sea, Slikker said, but not before Slikker was able to get a couple of shots from his digital camera.
“I thought, ‘No one is going to believe this.’ “
The juveniles must have blown pot in the sea lions face, , I’m glad it’s OK.
Hire him! He’ll work for fish, isn’t interested in retirement pay and just want to steer the boat. He probably doesn’t even worry about getting promoted.
Just keep the booze and low bridges away from them and they’ll do just fine.
He is getting ready for water wars.
haha that’s funny
Love that photo above. Makes it look like the sea lion knows what the heck it’s doing.
“The sea lion eventually went back in the water and out to sea, Slikker said, but not before he was able to get a couple of shots from his digital camera.”
Good thing the sea lion always carries a camera.
Well, they say these animals can learn very fast and more than a dog, so maybe its “monkey see, monkey do”.
Great story!
This sounds like an episode of Reno 911. Too funny!!!
Maybe it was the sea lion who was smoking pot and three juveniles trying to bite people. The Sheriff’s Department should hire him as a mascot.
OK pretty funny stuff… and we have to pay how much for humans to drive the boats?? Just hire a bunch of sea lions.. they’d probably work for food.
And what if the animal damaged the boat, who would pay??
How many idiots does it take to move a sea lion? 3. Wait why are they moving sea lions? Cause they are bothering people… Thank God I go to work everyday at 7:30 so we can pay people to drive mammals in the ocean!
Cuteset EVER!! So nice to see a funny story that makes you smile!
If I was the sheriff, I would have serious reservations about what assignments I’d give to those deputies in the future. One smart and intelligent sea lion outwits and out-maneuvers 3 law enforcement officers. It does not make them look very competent.