New Critters, Fertility Statues w. Powers on Display on Oregon Coast

Published 03/10/2010

Lumpsucker fish (photo Seaside Aquarium).

(Seaside, Oregon) – As Seaside Aquarium acquires bundles of freaky fish and aquatic critters, Newport's Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum has some rather famous – even paranormal – fertility statues on exhibit.

Ripley's Fertility Statues have been seen by millions of people since their special powers were discovered in 1994, with more than 2000 women reporting that they became pregnant shortly after touching the wooden sculptures. Now, after wrapping up the European leg of their three-year world tour, the statues are back in the U.S. They will be located in the lobby, making it easy for would-be parents to come in and touch them for free during regular business hours at the Newport museum, on the Bayfront.

They will be in Newport during Spring Break, week from March 20-28, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

One of the new octopuses at Seaside Aquarium (photo Seaside Aquarium).

The five-foot tall wooden statues were acquired from the Baule people of the Ivory Coast of West Africa in 1993, and were placed in the lobby of Ripley Entertainment's corporate headquarters in Orlando. Within months, 13 women, including staffers and office visitors, were pregnant.

Following a story on the phenomenon in the Wall Street Journal in December 1995, the media frenzy and the demand to touch the statues became international news. In the ensuing years, the edifices made three trips around the world.

The statues were recently on display at the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in St. Augustine, Florida. 250 SW Bay Boulevard in Newport. (541) 265-2206.

A basketstar is one heck of a surreal creature (photo Seaside Aquarium).

The Seaside Aquarium is gearing up for spring break and new specimens are already on display. Three must-see animals currently on display at the Seaside Aquarium are the elusive and comical Lumpsuckers, the multi-legged Basket Star, and the 70-pound Giant Pacific Octopus.

Lumpsuckers are comical fish and a favorite among aquarist and aquarium visitors. Their small size (usually the size of a quarter) makes them difficult to see in the wild. They use a modified pelvic fin which works as a suction disk to attach to hard surfaces, but when disturbed they hover around aimlessly changing directions like a helicopter.  

“Don’t pass up an opportunity to see this wonderful fish,” said Tiffany Boothe, with the Seaside Aquarium. 

Vivian is one of the adorable seals that will beg you for food at Seaside Aquarium (photo Seaside Aquarium).

A Basket Star is a beautiful sea star with five legs which branch off in various directions, making the sea star to appear to have hundreds of legs. The Basket Star is so mesmerizing, moving all of its legs attempting to catch food that you may loose track of time watching him.

There’s a new octopus in town at the aquarium (actually there are three, but one Giant Pacific Octopus is in the main tank).

“This is one of the larger octopus we have had in a long time,” Boothe said. “He was caught locally by a crab fisherman. Currently we have two large male octopus and one small female octopus on display.”

For spring breakers, the aquarium has also been a generations-long favorite for feeding the seals. They are open everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On the Promenade, Seaside, Oregon. 503-738-6211. www.seasideaquarium.com

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