Wild creatures assert themselves

THE wild creatures of the world seem to be asserting themselves. Only yesterday we discussed a raccoon that broke into a liquor store in the US then drank itself blotto. Now, Associated Press tells us of a seal that galumphed into a bar in New Zealand.

- Doug Larson

The creature was apparently lost, curious and well below New Zealand’s legal drinking age. It lodged itself under a dishwasher and showed no interest in calling a cab.

It was a wet, lazy Sunday evening when the baby fur seal waddled into the Sprig and Fern, The Meadows craft beer bar in Richmond, at the top of New Zealand's South Island. Accustomed to seeing animals in the pet-friendly bar, co-owner Bella Evans assumed the visitor was a dog before she took a closer look.

“Everyone was in shock,’ Evans said. “Oh my gosh. What do we do? What's going on?”

Evading pursuers, the creature dashed into a restroom and hid under the dishwasher.