Miller Park Zoo's sea lion makes pick for Super Bowl

[February 02, 2013]  BLOOMINGTON -- Miller Park Zoo's California sea lion, Gremlin, thinks the San Francisco 49ers will win Sunday's NFL Super Bowl game with a score of 21-19.

Gremlin chose the San Francisco 49ers to win during the first of her two usual daily shows at the zoo Thursday morning. She made this pick and others throughout the NFL season by retrieving miniature footballs with team logos from her pool. Two footballs with logos are tossed in the pool before each game, and whichever ball Gremlin selects first indicates her pick for the win. Her record so far this year stands at 138-127.

Gremlin is 9 years old and has been at the zoo since 2004.

As to if Gremlin has an all-time favorite NFL team, "probably the Dolphins would be the closest thing," guesses Jay Tetzloff, zoo superintendent.

For more information, contact the Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts department at 309-434-2260 or Miller Park Zoo at 309-434-2250.

[Text from Miller Park Zoo file received from Bloomington Parks & Recreation]