I was doing the Cape Horn loop hike in the Gorge on July 28th. When I stopped at the Cigar Rock viewpoint I saw this thing floating out in the river. I thought it was just debris at first, but then it started diving and surfacing. Logic would dictate that it's a sea lion, but I've never seen a white sea lion before. Can anybody give me a positive ID?
Sorry about the quality. Shot from my S7 phone on max zoom.
https://youtu.be/bzg2JU4TMNU
Mystery animal in the Columbia
Re: Mystery animal in the Columbia
Sea lions love to lounge on Phoca Rock, so it totally fits to assume that's what it is.
And a Google Image search for "albino sea lions" indicates that too is possible.
Very cool sighting!
And a Google Image search for "albino sea lions" indicates that too is possible.
Very cool sighting!
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...
Re: Mystery animal in the Columbia
Thanks Karl!!!
I'm going on the assumption that the sea lion ID is probably accurate. The only other animal that sprang to mind was a polar bear. That seems less likely. Ha,ha.
I'm going on the assumption that the sea lion ID is probably accurate. The only other animal that sprang to mind was a polar bear. That seems less likely. Ha,ha.
Re: Mystery animal in the Columbia
Heheh... I had a momentary "Sturgeon" thought, too.
But!!!
It just occurred to me that I had photos of sea lions on Phoca Rock, so I went looking and found this!
Same guy???
But!!!
It just occurred to me that I had photos of sea lions on Phoca Rock, so I went looking and found this!
Same guy???
Last edited by kepPNW on July 30th, 2016, 5:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Karl
Back on the trail, again...
Back on the trail, again...
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Re: Mystery animal in the Columbia
Looks like a sea lion to me as well. It does seem to have some darker pigmentation, it could be a leucistic sea lion. Either way very cool find.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir
Re: Mystery animal in the Columbia
I was able to zoom in & enhance your video slightly......
Re: Mystery animal in the Columbia
This deserves more attention. That is awesome.Guy wrote:I was able to zoom in & enhance your video slightly......