Sabotage Effort Makes National Headlines

Octopus opens valve, floods Santa Monica aquarium
4:54 PM February 26, 2009

An Octopus today managed to pry loose a water-control valve at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, flooding the facility with more than 200 gallons of saltwater.

~
The valve is inside the sea creature's tank, and officials think the Octopus grabbed hold of it while exploring.

~
"It found something loose and just pulled on it," said Tara Treiber, the aquarium's education manager. "They are very smart creatures."

~
A worker arriving this morning found water overflowing out of the tank and "a lovely little lake" on the floor — about 3 inches of water that damaged newly installed carpets, as well as walls and facades, Treiber said.

~
The damage could have been much worse had workers discovered the open valve later — potentially harming the sea life inside, Treiber said.

~
The female California two-spotted Octopus has been housed at the aquarium for two months, she said.

~
"They are solitary but curious creatures," Treiber said.

—Andrew Blankstein

Photo: The Octopus believed to have flooded Santa Monica's aquarium.