PUBLIC SAFETY
Sea lions bark at the moon, keep locals awake
The sea lions are making noise again in Newport Harbor, and the
residents aren't happy.
Their barking is keeping residents awake at night. And over Labor
Day weekend, a group of sea lions climbed aboard a 37-foot sail boat
and sunk it under their weight.
The Sheriff's Harbor Patrol says the sea lions like to climb
aboard anything that floats and lounge in the sun. If residents don't
want the sea lions to come around, they should check on boats often.
The Harbor Patrol discourages using any type of sharp deterrent
that could harm the animal. Instead, they suggest a wedge block of
wood affixed to the swim steps to prevent sea lions from climbing
onto the boat.
* The summer season at Newport Beach came to a tragic end Labor
Day weekend; an Anaheim man drowned late Sunday.
Lifeguards pulled Avelino Arellanes, 46, and a young woman from
the water at 6:10 p.m. near the 28th Street jetty, where the pair had
been seen struggling in the strong current.
Arellanes was transported to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian,
where he was pronounced dead.
The woman was treated at the scene but did not suffer serious
injuries.
The lifeguard at Tower 28 went off duty at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Lifeguards said Friday that surf conditions and crowd size did not
warrant keeping a guard on duty past 6 p.m.
