AGGRESSIVE ELEPHANT SEAL MENACES SONOMA BEACHES

[Sequoia]

A rogue elephant seal nicknamed Nibbles has run rampant near the mouth of the Russian River in recent weeks, killing a dozen harbor seals, biting a surfer and jumping out of the water to attack a pit bull terrier on Easter.

One witness said the 2,500-pound male, who often lunges at his victims, is the most aggressive elephant seal he's ever seen.

"This bull does straight-out murder," said Keary Sorenson of Sebastopol, a former surfer who volunteers for government and nonprofit agencies in Sonoma County. "A week ago, I saw him chase down a female harbor seal, use chest blows to crush her, then bare his upper canine teeth and drive them down onto her head and back."

Warning signs have gone up on beaches near Jenner, and officials cautioned the public Monday not to swim or wade in the estuary waters around Goat Rock Beach or approach the big seal should they see him basking in the sun. Kayakers also have grown wary, scouting the estuary from overlooking bluffs before going for a paddle.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/04/24/MNGJGPE9Q51.DTL

Women seem wicked when you're unwanted....

[Zookeeper]

1. That's my old neighborhood....

I've spent a lot of time on that beach enjoying the harbor seals and solitude.

It never occurred to me that an elephant seal would appear there. 'Sounds scary! Hopefully, they can find a way to just chase it from the beach.

(BTW, I never saw a pitbull on that beach, either.)

[guitar man]

2. damn

that has to be one bad mofo to jump on a pitbull :wow:

[Hobarticus]

3. Probably the only time you'd see a pitbull back down, too...

I mean, DAMN!!!

[guitar man]

4. I don't know

I have a pitbull/pointer mix, about 80-85lb. If she thought that thing was going to hurt one of us, especially the baby, she'd probably go to her death trying to protect us.

[Shakespeare]

5. That nasty fucker's been trouble for at least a year now.

I remember stories from a year or two back of it going after kayakers. :scared:

[HuffleClaw]

6. so kill it already before someone gets eaten

'hey, where's grandma?'