Oregon’s Port Astoria has too many sea lions—as many as 500. The animals camp out on the docks. They eat huge amounts of salmon. They keep boaters from docking. The Port of Astoria has tried all kinds of things to keep them away—beach balls, chicken wire, colorful tape, and now a fake whale.

Real orca whales eat sea lions. Authorities hoped a fiberglass model of an orca would scare the sea lions away.

Last Thursday, the fake orca sailed into view. The sea lions grew deathly quiet. Then suddenly, a ship passed by. The water in its wake swamped the fake whale. It bellied up! The sea lions probably thought it was dead.

But Port Astoria authorities aren’t giving up on the whale. After its motors dry out, they will try, try again.