CHP Officers Help Stranded Sea Lion

TOMALES, CA — Perhaps it wanted to bolster the population of tiny Tomales, where 187 residents were counted during the last U.S. census. Maybe it wanted to give back to the community by joining the church choir or it sought a warm place to spend the night — no one can be sure.

For reasons not immediately known, a sea lion recently became stranded near a local church — a considerable distance from any bodies of water. It happened Monday, Jan. 13, according to the California Highway Patrol, whose officers helped rescue the animal.

The sea lion was spotted one door down from the Catholic Church of the Assumption, 26825 Main St. in Tomales.

Officers from the CHP's Santa Rosa Office were on the scene to assist Marine Mammal Rescue in safely recovering the stranded animal.

"We’re grateful for the important work Marine Mammal Rescue does to preserve and protect our wildlife," the CHP said.

Patch contacted the Marine Mammal Center for more information on the incident. Here is what spokesperson Giancarlo Rulli told us:

"The Marine Mammal Center's dispatch team based at our hospital in Sausalito, California, responded to a call from the Marin County Fire Department of a sea lion in Tomales in an unusual location Monday, January 13, around 9 AM. Trained volunteer responders were immediately dispatched and arriving on scene confirmed the presence of a California sea lion resting on a low entrance wall in front of Catholic Church of the Assumption along Main St.

"The Center's team quickly performed a rescue and after securing the animal in a transport crate, brought the animal back to the hospital for further evaluation. In an admission exam performed by Center veterinarians on Tuesday, January 14, veterinary experts identified the animal as a subadult (roughly 3 year old) female sea lion in malnourished body condition and displaying lethargy and disorientation. A series of blood samples were taken for further evaluation, and X-rays showed the roughly 115 pound animal also had a since healed injury to its right front flipper.

"On Wednesday, January 15, veterinarians documented abnormal neurologic behavior synonymous with chronic domoic acid poisoning/toxicosis that included twitch-like reactions while in rehabilitative care. More information on domoic acid poisoning can be found, here: https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/science-conservation/research-library/domoic-acid-toxicosis.

"Based on the results of the blood samples taken the day prior that highlighted key indicators of disease presence, the abnormal response location (domoic acid poisoning can impact the hippocampus which serves as the memory and cognitive portion of the brain leading to some sea lions impacted by the disease to come ashore in abnormal locations) and the concerning neurologic behavior, veterinary experts elected humane euthanasia to relieve the animal's suffering due to the poor prognosis.

"A necropsy or animal autopsy is planned for early next week at the Center by our pathology team to confirm the poor prognosis.

"For reference, it's likely, but unconfirmed, that the animal swam into Tomales Bay, then accessed Keys Creek and swam further up a tributary of the creek into a field just east of Main Street before exiting the water and crossing Main St. to its eventual rescue location. The Center's team is grateful to Marin County Fire for reporting the animal and for the efforts of the California Highway Patrol in assisting our responders.

"The Center reminds the public that if they see a marine mammal in distress to keep a safe distance of at least 150 feet, do not intervene, and call the Center's response hotline at 415-289-SEAL (7325) so that experts can evaluate the situation and perform a rescue if necessary."