irene chan was taking her usual morning swim with a friend yesterday one a sea lion bit her on the leg. this is the fourth a sea lion attack since mid december. a swimmer who was bit in the arm last month describe the confrontation. >> i was frightened because he was a bowl. you can tell by the head. they have a bump on the head call the sagittal crest. i knew it was a male. he was displaying his teeth at me. >> no one knows if it's one or several different sea lions that are responsible for the attack. there are different theories explaining the aggressive behavior. the sea lions could be reacting to a biotoxins affecting the brains. they could also be injured or protecting themselves. some urologists say it's a recent dip in the hearing population which may be causing the sea lions to get more territorial about their feeding zones. >>> local religious leaders teaming up on a project to provide safe shelter for the

that swimmer, irene chan, has now been taken to san francisco general hospital. where a spokesperson says she is in good condition. also at her side is her husband, and her son, who i'm told happens to be a doctor, is also on his way to be with his mother. officials are recommending that swimmers here swim closer to the shore and also that they swim in groups. live in san francisco, at aquatic park, melanie woodrow, abc 7 news. >> melanie, i know you've been working the story since it happened. thank you for bringing us the new details. >>> out to southern california and the massive mudslides that left 17 people dead. santa barbara county officials announced this morning that eight people are still missing. here's abc 7 news reporter marcie gonzalez in burbank. >> reporter: search teams back out trekking through the thick muck desperately searching for survivors after the powerful mudslides in southern california. >> oh my god, mom. >> reporter: marco recorded tuesday as the fast. moving flow of mud and boulders came surging down his street in montecito and into

irene chan has been released from the hospital bitten on the knee highway swimming this morning. she was able to get back to shore when good samaritans and a retired paramedic attended to her injuries. swimmers should stay closer to shore. >>> a 98-year-old rosie the riveter will get to stay in the hope she's lived in for decades. annie small lived in the two-story, three-bedroom unit for 45 years and under threat of eviction by the marin housing authority. it cited safety concerns because of her age. but her family says she's tired and ill and shouldn't have to relocate. >> how much longer is she going to go on? she could live another ten years. if that's god's will. in reality at her age and she's developing some inesses. >> previousious leadership at the authority promised elderly and frail residents they would never face eviction. >>> two dozen elite surfers are standing by ready to converge on half moon bay. >> the impending storm that could mean the mavericks competition is back on for the first time in nearly would years. >> big changes coming to facebook. why mark zuckerb

irene chan has been released from the hospital bitten on the knee highway swimming this morning. she was able to get back to shore when good samaritans and a retired paramedic attended to her injuries. swimmers should stay closer to shore. >>> a 98-year-old rosie the riveter will get to stay in the hope she's lived in for decades. annie small lived in the two-story, three-bedroom unit for 45 years and under threat of eviction by the marin housing authority. it cited safety concerns because of her age. but her family says she's tired and ill and shouldn't have to relocate. >> how much longer is she going to go on? she could live another ten years. if that's god's will. in reality at her age and she's developing some inesses. >> previousious leadership at the authority promised elderly and frail residents they would never face eviction. >>> two dozen elite surfers are standing by ready to converge on half moon bay. >> the impending storm that could mean the mavericks competition is back on for the first time in nearly would years. >> big changes coming to facebook. why mark zuckerb

a sea lion bit irene chan while she was swimming. she was able to make it back to shore and people helped her. the fourth sea lion attack since december. >>> organizers are still deciding whether conditions will be ideal for the maverick surfing contest next thursday. it will definitely not be running on monday. locals around half moon bay are getting ready in case. a storm in the pacific is predicted to bring big waves. 24 of the world's elite surfers are standing by for official word. last time mavericks was held was in 2016. the event did not happen last year because the former organizers went bankrupt. we should mention this year is the first year that women can participate. about time. >>> in the last hour, tesla went public with its highly anticipated model 3 sedan. the company's palo alto showroom is one of the two places in california where you can get behind the while and maybe kick the tires. eager customers, though, are still facing some big production delays. abc 7 news reporter alyssa harrington is live at the tesla show

while irene chan will be fine, it was a scary morning. >> she appeared to be very weak, somewhat traumatized and, you know, good news is she had some great help. >> reporter: this most recent fight happened before 7 this morning in the same spot as the prior two bites and a fourth incident when a sea lion gummed his swimmer not breaking the skin. a man was working on a dock nearby and saw irene pulled to shore. >> there was kind of some meat hanging out on the side of her leg and stuff here. it was a pretty good bite. >> reporter: alice mall was swimming at the time nearby and guided chan back to shore. >> i said do you want me to pull you in and she said no. i can swim by myself. i just can't kick. it looked like the sea lion had bit her on both sides. she said it clamped down onto her and bit her and pulled. >> reporter: the national park service says a decline in herring population may be to blame and as a result, sea lions have become more territorial. in fact, the spot where these three attacks happened is called the jacuzzi and is a well known spot for sea lions to feed. >> there's a c

irene chan bitten on the knee as she swam. another swimmer heard cries for help after sea lion attack. >> started swimming with her, do you want me to pull you back to beach? no, can swim for myself, can't kick because sea lion bit me on the knee. >> swam to shore, good samaritans and retired paramedic saw to her injuries. officials are telling swimmers to stay closer to shore and in large groups. >>> only abc7 news was invited inside active shooter training session. what you could learn to save your life. >>> a meeting happening right now could make your commute easier. >>> get the latest newnytime with upgraded abc7 news app. enhanced live video, more customization and personalized push alerts sfx: tinny headphone music sfx: feet shuffling life can change in an instant. be covered when it does... ...with a health plan through covered california. we offer free expert help choosing the best plan for you. and all of our plans include free preventive care. financial help is available, so check for yourself to see what savings yo

irene chan bitten on the knee as she swam. another swimmer heard cries for help after sea lion attack. >> started swimming with her, do you want me to pull you back to beach? no, can swim for myself, can't kick because sea lion bit me on the knee. >> swam to shore, good samaritans and retired paramedic saw to her injuries. officials are telling swimmers to stay closer to shore and in large groups. >>> only abc7 news was invited inside active shooter training session. what you could learn to save your life. >>> a meeting happening right now could make your commute easier. >>> get the latest news anytime with upgraded abc7 news app. enhanced live video, more customization and personalized push alert sfx: tinny headphone music sfx: feet shuffling life can change in an instant. be covered when it does... ...with a health plan through covered california. we offer free expert help choosing the best plan for you. and all of our plans include free preventive care. financial help is available, so check for yourself to see what savings

the opening to the bay. 65-year-old irene chan was doing her usual swim with a friend in san francisco's aquatic park this morning when she says out of the blue a sea lion bit her leg. it's the fourth such attack since mid december. >> this is actually unusual behavior. >> reporter: dr. field, the staff veterinarian at the marine mammal center, says they don't know why there has been a spate of sea lion attacks. >> it's easy to forget that they are wild. sometimes, as wild animals, they may be unpredictable. >> reporter: swimmers say despite the attacks, they will still work out in the water. >> i have had encounters before. they have popped up in front of me and they look cute as hell. warm eyes, big and brown, whiskers. they look like dogs. >> reporter: george thomas howell knows to keep his distance. >> they say you are supposed to swim back gently, no thrashing movements or anything, and apparently blowing bubbles in the water is kind of a sign of aggression between male sea lions. so i try not to do that. >> reporter: scientists say the unexplained behavior could be due to a bio tox

. >> reporter: irene chan starts her morning swim the same way every day. singing to the creatures she shares aquatic park with. ♪ happy morning to you >> that's my pace. ♪ happy morning to you >> reporter: but on thursday, a sea lion bit chan on her knee. >> i tell all the sea animals, i'm a friend to you. but i don't know, this one becomes so mean to me. >> reporter: chan says she's been swimming in the ocean more than 30 years. she says her first brush with the sea lion at aquatic park was three months ago when one got under her body. after the sea lion bit chan on thursday, she called for help. a rowing club swimmer was there. >> i started swimming with her. i said, should i pull you back to the beach? she said, no, i can swim by myself, i just can't kick because the sea lion bit me on the knee. >> reporter: her son is an e.r. dog. >> my son said, you are very lucky, mom. >> reporter: chan says she plans to continue swimming as early as next week. in san francisco, melanie woodrow, abc 7 news. >>> the world's biggest wave surf contest returns on tuesday

irene chan was taking her usual morning swim with a friend yesterday when suddenly a sea lion bit her the leg. this is the fourth a sea lion attack since mid december. the swimmer who was bit in the arm last month described the confrontation. >> i was frightened. he was a bowl. you can tell by the head. they have a bump on the head call the sagittal crest. i knew it was a male. with his mouth, he was displaying his teeth at me. >> no one knows if it's one or several sea lions that are responsible for the attacks. there are different theories explaining the aggressive behavior. sea lions could be reacting to a bio tocsin affecting their brains. they could also be injured and are protecting themselves but some marine biologists say it's because of the recent dip in the herring population which could cause sea lions to be more territorial about their feeding zones. >>> bay area religious leaders are working together to provide safe shelter for the homeless in oakland. some images of small kids living in a tent on east 12th and 23rd were taken by reverend ken chambers, the interim board c

. >> reporter: irene chan starts her morning swim the same way every day. singing to the creatures she shares aquatic park with. ♪ happy morning to you >> that's my pace. ♪ happy morning to you >> reporter: but thursday wasn't exactly a happy morning. a sea lion bit chan on her knee. >> i tell all the sea animals, i'm a friend to you. but i don't know, this one becomes so mean to me. >> reporter: chan says she's been swimming in the ocean more than 30 years. she says her first brush with the sea lion at aquatic park was three months ago when one got up under her body. >> i think, it's not a dream, what happened? >> reporter: after the sea lion bit chan on thursday, she called for help. a rowing club swimmer was there. >> i started swimming with her. i said, should i pull you back to the beach? she said, no, i can swim by myself, i just can't kick because the sea lion bit me on the knee. >> reporter: this was chan in the hospital. her son is an e.r. doctor. >> my son said, you are very lucky, mom. >> reporter: chan says she plans to continue swimming as earl

. >> reporter: irene chan starts her mornin swim the same way every day, singing to the creatures she shares aquatic park with. >> happy morning to you. that is my pace, happy morning to you. >> reporter: but thursday wasn't exactly a happy morning. a sea lion bit chan on her knee. >> just, whap. i tell all the sea animals, i'm a friend to you. but i don't know, this one becomes so mean to me. >> reporter: chan says she's been swimming in the ocean more than 30 years. she says her first brush with a sea lion at aquatic park was three months ago when one got up under her body. >> i said, this is not a treatment. what happened? >> reporter: after the sea lion bit chan thursday, she called for help. fellow south end rowing club swimmer alice was there. >> i started swimming with her. do you want me to pull you back to the beach? no, no, i can swim by myself, i just can't kick because a sea lion bit me on the knee. >> this is chan in the hospital. her son is an er doctor. she plans to continue swimming as early as next week. in san francisco, melanie woodrow, abc 7 news. >>> switch to the

. >> reporter: irene chan was doing her usual swim with a friend in the aquatic park when she says outlue a sea lion bit her leg. it's the fourth such attack since mid december. >> this is unusual behavior. >> reporter: this doctor, the staff event at the marine mammal center said no one knows exactly why there's been these attacks but -- >> it's easy to forget they are wild and sometimes as wild animals they may be unpredictable. >> one fang got into my arm. >> reporter: christian was bitten on december 14. >> he looked angry. his mouth was open and he was looking at me. >> he said the animal followed him and displayed aggressive behavior. >> i was frightened. he was a bowl. you could tell by the head. they have a bump on the head, the sagittal crest. i knew it was a male. with his mouth, he was displaying his teeth at me. >> reporter: scientists say the behavior could be due to a biotoxin that affects the mammals off brains. or they could be hurt like this sea lion at pier 39 whose neck was sliced open by what appeared to be a fishing line. >> if they are feeling pain or something li

. >>> reporter: 65-year-old irene chan was doing her usual swim with a friend in san francisco's aquatic park this morning when she says out of the blue a sea lion bit her leg. it's the fourth such attack since mid-december. >> this is unusual behavior. >> reporter: this doctor, the staff veterinarian at the marine mammal center, says no one knows exactly why there's been a spate of attacks, but -- >> it is easy to forget that they are wild and sometimes as wild animals, they may be unpredictable. >> just one fang got into my arm. >> reporter: this man was bitten on december 14th. >> he looked angry. his mouth was open and looking at me eye to eye. >> reporter: the animal followed him and displayed aggressive behavior. >> i was frightened. they have a bump on the head, a crest, and so i knew it was a male. and with his mouth, he was displaying his teeth at me. >> reporter: scientists say the unexplained behavior could be due to a biotoxin that affects the mammal's brain throwing them off kilter. or they could be hurt like this sea lion at pier 39 whose neck was sliced open by what appear

. >> yesterday irene chan was taking her usual morning swim with a friend when suddenly a sea lion ater in the leg. this is the fourth a sea lion attack since mid december. a swimmer who was bit in the arm by a sea lion last month talked about the confrontation. >> i was frightened because he was a bowl. you could tell by the head. they have a bump on the head called the sagittal crest. i knew it was a male. with his mouth, he was displaying his teeth at me. >> while no one knows if it's just one or several sea lions doing this, there are different theories explaining why they may be aggressive. sea lions could be reacting to a biotoxin in the could be affecting their brains. they may also be hurt and maybe protecting themselves. look at that scar. some marine biologists say it's because of a recent drop in the hearing population that could cause some sea lions to get more territorial about their feeding areas. >>> the national football league confirmed that is investigating weather raiders owner mark davis violated the rooney rule when he hired jon gruden. the rooney rule stipulates

. >> reporter: irene chan starts her mornin swim the same way every day, singing to the creatures she shares aquatic park with. >> happy morning to you. that is my pace, happy morning to you. >> reporter: but thursday wasn't exactly a happy morning. a sea lion bit chan on her knee. >> just, whap. i tell all the sea animals, i'm a friend to you. but i don't know, this one becomes so mean to me. >> reporter: chan says she's been swimming in the ocean more than 30 years. she says her first brush with a sea lion at aquatic park was three months ago when one got up under her body. >> i said, this is not a treatment. what happened? >> reporter: after the sea lion bit chan thursday, she called for help. fellow south end rowing club swimmer alice was there. >> i started swimming with her. do you want me to pull you back to the beach? no, no, i can swim by myself, i just can't kick because a sea lion bit me on the knee. >> this is chan in the hospital. her son is an er doctor. she plans to continue swimming as early as next week. in san francisco, melanie woodrow, abc 7 news. >>> switch to the

doctors released irene chan last night.n bit her on the knee while swimming yesterday morning. she was able to get back to shore where people including a retired paramedics helped tend to her injuries. this is the fourth such attack since december. officials are telling swimmers to stay closer to shore. >>> meantime, police warning people in daly city to be careful of coyotes. >> several have recently been spotted in the neighborhood next to the cal palace. a woman who lives on south ridgeway captured images from her window and sent them to police. rainy weather leads to an increase in rodents which are the main meal of coyotes. daly city police say the latest sightings have been in the southern hills neighborhood you can see on the map. >>> san francisco's acting mayor is proposing a new honor for the late ed lee. critics are questioning london breed's motives. >> b.a.r.t. riders may be noticing fewer people on the trains, why transit leaders think that's happening. >>> it's 5:40 in the morning on this friday. thank you fo

. >> reporter: irene chan says she has no idea why a sea lion bit her during her morning swim at aquatic part. the 55-year-old says at first she thought it was a joke. >> i think something around me because it holds my knee. you feel the teeth hold, but not a serious bite, just hold you. >> reporter: she says the sea lion bit her knee, tugged on her and then let go. the bite broke the skin on the front and back of her leg. tonight, chan is feeling lucky it didn't cause more damage and so many people were nearby to help. >> i called for help and she was swimming next to me and making sure i'm okay. i didn't feel it but at the almost end i feel it and then i stopped kicking. >> reporter: chan is the fourth swimmer bit by a sea lion in aquatic park in less than two months. the south end rowing club member says she's been diving in for a predawn swim for ten years and once her doctor gives her the okay, she'll be back in the water. >> it's a lot of fun there, swimming in the cold water is a lot of fun there. >> she's a brave lady. jean elle reporting there. she is limping a little bit, you c

. >>> reporter: 65-year-old irene chan was doing her usual swim with a friend in san francisco's aquatic park this morning when she says out of the blue a sea lion bit her leg. it's the fourth such attack since mid-december. >> this is unusual behavior. >> reporter: this doctor, the staff veterinarian at the marine mammal center, says no one knows exactly why there's been a spate of attacks, but -- >> it is easy to forget that they are wild and sometimes as wild animals, they may be unpredictable. >> just one fang got into my arm. >> reporter: this man was bitten on december 14th. >> he looked angry. his mouth was open and looking at me eye to eye. >> reporter: the animal followed him and displayed aggressive behavior. >> i was frightened. they have a bump on the head, a crest, and so i knew it was a male. and with his mouth, he was displaying his teeth at me. >> reporter: scientists say the unexplained behavior could be due to a biotoxin that affects the mammal's brain throwing them off kilter. or they could be hurt like this sea lion at pier 39 whose neck was sliced open by what appear