An absurdly lost California sea lion startled commuters on Vancouver Island Sunday before eventually slipping away into the waters of a nearby lake.

The roughly 350-pound adult male spent several hours lolling on the tarmac of Hwy. 4, the Pacific Rim link between Ucluelet and Tofino and the rest of Vancouver Island. 

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure my reaction was the same as everyoneB次元官网网址檚. Confused but also not surprised, it is the coast after all,B次元官网网址� Tofino resident Spencer, who asked that his last name not be published, told Black Press Media.  

Spencer said he was close to the end of Kennedy Lake nearing the West Coast junction on his way home when he noticed oncoming vehicles flashing their headlights at him. He turned the corner carefully, not expecting a sea lion to be the cause of the caution. 

B次元官网网址淚n the summer months itB次元官网网址檚 common to see pinnipeds in the Kennedy Lake area. Sometimes basking on the rocks nearby,B次元官网网址� he said, before adding that seeing a marine mammal on the highway is B次元官网网址渧ery unusual."

B次元官网网址淲est coast wonders always bring curiosity out of the community. IB次元官网网址檓 hoping for a safe return to his home land for this young sea dog.B次元官网网址�

Paul Cottrell, a marine mammal rescue coordinator with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said the sea lion was first reported around 6 a.m. Sunday and spent several hours on the highway, but waddled back into Kennedy Lake before a rescue team could arrive to transport it to the ocean. 

B次元官网网址淲hile they were en route, the sea lion decided heB次元官网网址檇 had enough of the highway and made a beeline for the lake,B次元官网网址� Cottrell said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping that he finds his way out Kennedy River there and gets back to the ocean.B次元官网网址� 

He said DFO believes the sea lion found its way to the Kennedy Lake boat launch and propelled itself roughly half-a-kilometre to the highway from there. 

B次元官网网址淗e was moving around trying to find his way to the ocean, but unfortunately he was going the wrong wayB次元官网网址� Cottrell said. B次元官网网址淭his particular situation so far from the ocean is really bizarre. ItB次元官网网址檚 a unique and odd situation.B次元官网网址�

He added the sea lion looked to be underfed and that while harbour seals spend time in freshwater lakes, there is likely not enough fish for a sea lion to thrive long-term. 

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping this poor guy does find his way to the ocean. Kennedy Lake is big and there are fish in it so, for the short term, itB次元官网网址檚 probably OK; but not for the long-term for sure,B次元官网网址� he said.  B次元官网网址淗e doesnB次元官网网址檛 look great, so hopefully he does find his way out of the lake.B次元官网网址� 

He said the first people to report the animal said they initially mistook it for a bear, a much more common sight on local roadways. 

B次元官网网址淭hey stopped and it was dark because itB次元官网网址檚 early in the morning and then they realized, B次元官网网址楬oly Smokes, itB次元官网网址檚 a sea lion,B次元官网网址� so they called us immediately which was awesome and we were able to work with the RCMP to get someone out there,B次元官网网址� he said. 

He added a Parks Warden joined local police to alert drivers of the sea lionB次元官网网址檚 presence. 

B次元官网网址淭hey were able to make sure folks that were driving by were aware and that it was safe for the animal and the vehicles,B次元官网网址� he said. 

DFO is monitoring the situation and is ready to respond and take the sea lion to the ocean if it shows up again. 

B次元官网网址淲e will look to corral him into a live transport crate and move him to the ocean that way, but ideally he finds his own way back to the ocean,B次元官网网址� he said.  B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a plan with the (Vancouver) Aquarium if he is seen again to get a team up there really quick and dart him and get him back to the ocean with a live transport cage, but we are hoping that he finds his way out himself. That would be the best.B次元官网网址�

Social media posts on Thursday night suggested the sea lion had returned to the boat launch area and the Westerly will update this story as soon as new information comes in. 

Anyone who spots the sea lion, or any marine mammal in distress is urged to report their sighting to DFOB次元官网网址檚 24-hour hotline at 1-800-465-4336.

Cottrell said that while marine mammals commuting on roadways is rare, DFO has responded to several across the province. 

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not all that common but itB次元官网网址檚 unfortunately happened a few times in the last decade,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 usually when theyB次元官网网址檙e going up a creek or a river likely following fish and then they get disoriented when theyB次元官网网址檙e way up there and lose their way.B次元官网网址� 

He noted a sea lion found its way into the front yard of a Sunshine Coast residence where it was darted and transported roughly five kilometres to the ocean and also referenced a harbour seal that wound up on Hwy. 99 in South Surrey where it was struck and killed by a vehicle.