A fake orca is headed for the Port of Astoria next month -- in yet another attempt to scare off hundreds of sea lions that have been lounging on the docks, preventing boaters from using them.

The 32-foot-long fiberglass orca was suggested as a deterrent worth trying by its owner, Terry Buzzard of Bellingham, Washington. The 73-year-old built the fake killer whale about 12 years ago to pull along in parades to promote his business, Island Mariner Whale Watching Cruises.

But when a friend recently shared photos of the California sea lions that have taken over the docks in Astoria, it gave Buzzard -- who has been offering whale watching tours since 1978 -- an idea.

"That being my business, I know the natural predator of sea lions is the orca whale -- so I just put two and two together," Buzzard told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Saturday.

At Tuesday's Port commission meeting, Executive Director Jim Knight said that Buzzard had offered to tow the fake orca the nearly five hours to Astoria, according to The Daily Astorian newspaper.

Terry Buzzard of Bellingham, Wash., plans to bring this fiberglass orca whale to Astoria, in an attempt to scare sea lions off of the docks. Pictured here is Blake Harper, an employee of Buzzard's company, Island Mariner Whale Watching Cruises.

"I called up Astoria and talked to a guy by the name of Jim Knight ... and told him my crazy idea," Buzzard said. "He said, 'Bring it down.'"

A recent count found that there were 2,300 sea lions in Astoria. That's about 1,000 more than 2014, and about 10 times the population in 2010.

Sea lions also have been showing up in large numbers -- and staying -- in Newport.

Astoria has tried electrified mats to shoo away the marine mammals. Newport has resorted to paint guns.

The animals are damaging the docks because of their weight and size. Their presence also prevents boaters from using the docks. Plus they've been feasting on one of their favorite foods, salmon, to the chagrin of the commercial fishing industry.

On the plus side, though, the sea lions have been attracting hoards of spectators who enjoy watching them -- even though others have complained of noise and smell.

Buzzard says his fake orca floats, has a hatch and is registered as a boat. In the next few weeks, he plans to install an outboard motor on it so one of his employees can drive it around the docks in Astoria. Buzzard doesn't know whether his idea will work, and he's offering it free of charge.

"We're just doing it for the fun of it," he said.

-- Aimee Green

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