Sea Lion Checks Out My Dog

[Up-4-Air]

After taking my boat out at Kalama I stopped along the road near Marker #49 so I could play with Max on the beach. I throw his toy in the river and he swims after it. His favorite game. Just as I let the toy go an 8 foot sea lion appears about 15 feet from where it's going to land. Yipes! The sea lion see the toy comming his way and hurriedly dives out of the way. Meanwhile Max has jumped in the water and is on his way out to get it. I'm holding my breath. No sea lion. Good. I figure he has beat it out of the area. After Max gets back to the beach he runs up and down the beach, digs three or four holes in the sand and finally gives it back to me so we can do it all over again. There hasn't been any sign of the sea lion so I figure he's way down the river somewhere. A bad assumption. Like a dummy I throw the toy again. Yipes! Without seeing the sea lion there's a big swirl not far from where the toy will land. Max is on his way again. At this point I'm really feeling like a dummy. Hope the sea lion doesn't think of Max as a tasty treat. All ends well. Max gets back, runs up and down the beach, digs several holes, then brings me the toy for another round. Sorry pup, it's time to go. I'm a nervous wreck as we walk back to the truck.

As we drive away I realize the lion was attracted to the play just like he would have been if the comotion had been caused by a hooked salmon. He had at least two oppertunities to grab Max if he had seen Max as food. I'm just glad he didn't. There wouldn't have been anything I could have done except watch. :depressed:

[justcastn]

That's just to close for comfort!!! Glad he didn't do anything to Max!!

[Uncle Milty]

Sea lions will eat dogs. A few weeks ago, I posted a story about a college friend of mine in Alaska whose family dog was nabbe right off of a dock by a sea lion.

-Milty