While on the beach at Ventura Sunday, we noticed a seal (seal lion crapucus) on the beach. A 50 foot radius area was roped off with federal signs protecting the beast. This was done by the life guards on duty nearby. Actually I did'nt think much about the situation at that time. The seal finally made his/her way back into the water about an hour later. About 40 minutes after that, while on the pier nearby, I noticed the life guard truck arriving near the spot where the seal was earlier. Two life guards got out of the truck to assist the locally assigned 2 lifeguards. What the 4 were were doing was making everyone move off the beach. It just so happened that another seal "walked up" to sun bathe for a while. It was clear that most of the people were not happy about moving as some were there all camped out for hours. The people who were moved, were nearly 40 feet from the new beast, but that was too close. Most of them were so disgusted that they did not move to another spot, they just left altogether. What are we trying to accomplish with this? Why do a bunch entrenched beach goers have to move away when all they are doing is lying there? Why do the seals need 50 feet of clearance. If the people are so distracting, harmful, and potentially dangerous, why did the seal dry dock himself and walk toward them in the first place.
This case may not be a big deal, but it represents a very big and pathetic situation. This puts not only the existence of the seal above our recreational needs (which is usually understandable), but now it is putting the seals recreational needs above ours and costs us plenty. Just had to share it.
<font color=orange>The best ideas are the ones that look obvious to the casual observer.</font color=orange>


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