The Seagle, a sea serpent described in Scandinavian folk tales, appeared April 1, making its home in the vacant lot at the corner of Market Street and 28th Avenue Northwest, across from the future home of the Nordic Heritage Museum.

Legends tell of the Seagle attacking Viking boats to feast on kegs of mead and humans, according to a press release sent to the Ballard News-Tribune.

The beast will be sold on eBay to support the Nordic Heritage Museum and local charities, according to the release. Until then, the Seagle will sit in what some residents have started calling Ballard's newest pool.

"Visitors are reminded to stay behind the barrier fence and to not feed the beast," according to the release. "Swimmers should yield the community swimming hole to the beast during its visit."

Jim Dougherty, owner of the vacant property since last spring, told the Ballard News-Tribune in November that the development of a planned retail and office building on the site has been stalled by a lawsuit over the cleanup of contaminated soil left over from the lot's time as a gas station and the economic slump is causing him concern for the future of the project.

For more information about the Seagle, please see the attached press release.