By Nora OB次元官网网址橫alley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter HA-SHILTH-SA

Vet staff from the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMRS) are on standby this week along Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 Pacific Rim Highway after a California sea lion was spotted over the holidays on several occasions by different drivers, stranded on the road.

Vet staff say the marine mammal likely followed fish up a river and into Kennedy Lake, near Ucluelet, then staggered up a path near Highway 4. Emergency crews are working alongside Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and aquarium personnel to capture the confused sea lion.

B次元官网网址淚deally, what IB次元官网网址檇 like to do is bring this animal back to the rescue facility and have a good look at him. IB次元官网网址檓 not convinced 100 per cent that he is perfectly normal,B次元官网网址� said Martin Haulena, the executive director and head vet at VAMMRS.

B次元官网网址淏ut if we canB次元官网网址檛 get him back safely here, relocation is still a possibility. IB次元官网网址檒l leave that up to DFO,B次元官网网址� he said.

Vancouver-based vet staff Sion Cahoon and Katie Dantoni have been surveying the highway and Kennedy Lake area where the sea lion was spotted by a driver on Dec. 29, 2024, but they said the marine mammal hasnB次元官网网址檛 been seen since they arrived on Jan. 5. They are prepared to use a sedative dart to capture the lost sea lion.

Haulena told the Ha-shilth-sa that the sea lion is B次元官网网址渘ot acting quite rightB次元官网网址�.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not super common, however we do have animals that find themselves in weird places. Unfortunately, a lot of the time there is something wrong with these animals, there is something wrong with the brain function,B次元官网网址� Haulena explained.

Things like cancers, biotoxins or gun shot wounds could all affect the brain and cause long-term effect, according to Haulena, as well as a whole host of bacteria, viruses and fungus that could cause neurological deficits and lead to the animal to acting abnormally.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Lands and Natural Resources Manager Saya Masso agrees.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 odd that it would be on its lonesome. That might mean that itB次元官网网址檚 sick or hungry. ItB次元官网网址檚 not favourable to anybody to see it suffering out there,B次元官网网址� said Masso.

He went on to say that sea lions get into the lake on occasion, but they donB次元官网网址檛 normally hang around all by themselves.

B次元官网网址淚n historic times, the sea lion would have likely been harvested and utilized to its full extent traditionally,B次元官网网址� said Masso. B次元官网网址淚n a perfect world, it would just be sent back into the ocean to find its family.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 do worry about the animalB次元官网网址檚 safety and I do worry about peopleB次元官网网址檚 safety, of course,B次元官网网址� Haulena continued. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a stretch of highway that has some blind corners. ItB次元官网网址檚 a little bit worrisome.B次元官网网址�

Anyone that sees the sea lion is encouraged to contact VAMMRS at 604-258-SEAL (7325) or the BC Marine Mammal Response Network 1-800-465-4336, or by emailing DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO鈫昫fo-mpo.gc.ca or VHF Channel 16.