Sea lions have retaken control of UclueletB次元官网网址檚 52 Steps Dock.
Residents received a roughly eight month reprieve from the clamorous choir of bellowing barkers, but they have returned with a vengeance and the townB次元官网网址檚 council is being urged to haul the large marine mammals away from damaging the dock and local serenity.
B次元官网网址淲ith 150 sea lions barking away all day and night long, it has become unbearable for those of us living next to the water,B次元官网网址� wrote Angela Bueckert in a letter to council, identifying herself as a B次元官网网址渟leep deprived and falling behind on workB次元官网网址攄ue to sea lionsB次元官网网址攔esident of Helen Road.B次元官网网址�
Bueckert noted thatand suggested efforts must be put into preventing repeat performances.
B次元官网网址淭here was talk of finding a solution, but nothing has been done. The noise is equivalent to 150 dog constantly barking, so working from home is very difficult, sleeping almost impossible,B次元官网网址� she wrote.
She also expressed concern about the potential damage being done to the 140-metre dock as sea lions jump onto it and over each other. Female California Sea Lions can reach approximately 110 kilograms and males can get up to 520 kilograms.
B次元官网网址淭he combined feces and vomit of 150 animals is also wafting up to our houses creating a terrible smell, and the acidity of the feces and vomit will destroy the wooden dock,B次元官网网址� she wrote. B次元官网网址淭hey are also now jumping on the boats tied to the dock and have wrecked the life lines of one of the sailboats. There are many possible solutions to this issue which we would like to see implemented as soon as possible.B次元官网网址�
BueckertB次元官网网址檚 was one of three letters complaining about the sea lions that landed on councilB次元官网网址檚 Oct. 29 agenda.
Jess Rutherford wrote to express concern about the B次元官网网址渆scalating human/wildlife conflictB次元官网网址� impacting the community.
B次元官网网址淐urrently, over 120 sea lions inhabit this area, resulting in significant noise disturbances and infrastructure damage and impacting the enjoyment and safety of residents and visitors alike,B次元官网网址� Rutherford wrote. B次元官网网址淭his situation not only affects the quality of life for those in the vicinity but also raises concerns regarding public safety and the well-being of the wildlife itself. I believe it is essential for the council to address this issue promptly, as it poses a growing challenge for our community.B次元官网网址�
Rutherford asked the district to explore possible solutions and wildlife management strategies out of respect for both residents and sea lions.
B次元官网网址淲e all know that these California Boys are our winter residents of Ucluelet and signal a change in our seasons,B次元官网网址� the letter reads. B次元官网网址淗owever, ultimately, we are doing a disservice to wildlifeB次元官网网址 know this issue will require some innovative solutions, yet I believe we can achieve this.B次元官网网址�
Matt Edwards suggested the district took inadequate action when sea lions took over the dock earlier this year and urged for more attention to be given to the issue.
B次元官网网址淭hey are damaging the dock and making life for the Ucluelet residents that live around the dock unbearable. The constant barking makes it impossible to sleep, work or even live,B次元官网网址� he wrote. B次元官网网址淭here are fast, cost effective solutions. It just requires a little initiative. I look forward to hearing what solutions Council plans to initiate and when. This canB次元官网网址檛 go on for another winter!!!.B次元官网网址�
After reviewing the letters, mayor Marilyn McEwen quipped that the issue is B次元官网网址渘ear and dearB次元官网网址� to her heart as she lives near 52 Steps.
B次元官网网址淚 hear them every morning.B次元官网网址� she said.
McEwen noted that the districtB次元官网网址檚 Harbour Master Kevin Cortes put up caution tape on wooden pegs along the dockB次元官网网址檚 perimeter, but that hadnB次元官网网址檛 done the trick.
B次元官网网址淪ome of the sea lions have figured out that itB次元官网网址檚 actually malleable and they can get through it and they have gotten through it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got about 50 of them on the dock right now, which is better than the 150 that we had a few weeks back.B次元官网网址�
District CAO Duane Lawrence said his staff is working on solutions, but would need permission from The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada before moving ahead with any permanent changes to the dock.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e tried to get creative to try to dissuade our friendly sea lions from sinking our dock. The caution tape that was put around there was quite successful for a little bit but, apparently, they learned that the tape is not really an obstruction,B次元官网网址� Lawrence said.
He estimated that about 30 sea lions had first penetrated the new tape two days prior and that number had nearly doubled overnight.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e telling each other and their friends that itB次元官网网址檚 OK,B次元官网网址� he said.
He explained district staff are asking DFO for authority to install a permanent railing around the dock to prevent sea lions from climbing onto it and that Cortes is working on a temporary wooden structure to put in place while that approval is pending.
Prior to their arrival this past winter, sea lions had not shown much interest in the dock for over a decade
B次元官网网址淭his seems to be a recurring problem that is relatively new to the community,B次元官网网址� Lawrence said.
He added council would likely be receiving a report during their Nov. 26 Harbour Authority meeting about the potential permanent railing.
Coun. Mark Maftei suggested some residents being bothered by the sea lions may not understand that the dock is a federal asset and under the jurisdiction of DFO.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the federal government that has final say about what can and cannot be done. IB次元官网网址檝e probably heard 15 creative solutions, 10 of which are just cruel and obviously illegal and the rest of which are completely beyond the districtB次元官网网址檚 purview to implement,B次元官网网址� Maftei said.
B次元官网网址淔or anyone whoB次元官网网址檚 keenly following this, like the folks that wrote in, at this point my understanding is thereB次元官网网址檚 absolutely nothing the district can do that isnB次元官网网址檛 at the direction of DFO, which is aware of the problem and is not necessarily as concerned as some of the folks writing in are.B次元官网网址�
Lawrence clarified that DFO has given the district authorization to put in temporary measures, but has not yet approved permanent changes.
B次元官网网址淎nything would be good for now,B次元官网网址� McEwen said.
The sea lions seemed to have dispersed over the weekend with none showing up on the dock on Thursday, Nov. 7.
