PREGNANT SEA LION FOUND ON CARLSBAD RESORT’S GOLF COURSE
A pregnant sea lion waddled her way onto the golf course of a Carlsbad resort earlier this week.
With a bit of coaxing, SeaWorld Rescue Team was able to catch the sea lion at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa on Thursday and to take her back to the beach, Rescue Team Supervisor Jeni Smith said.
The mammal wasn’t quite as far inland as the sea lion spotted crossing state Route 94 earlier this year, but she certainly needed help returning home.
Smith said the resort called Thursday to report the sea lion. Crews headed up to Carlsbad and by 9 a.m. were on the course corralling her.
“She looked like she was aware of her surroundings. We just felt like she is in a strange location, a little lost,” Smith said.
Smith said she doesn’t think the animal crossed any streets to reach the resort. Rather, high tides and waterways made it possible for her to reach the nearby resort.
The sea lion looked healthy and appeared to be ready to give birth any day, so the decision was made to immediately return her to the sea, authorities said. She was back in the water by 11:30 a.m.
The animal was the 50th sea lion
rescued by SeaWorld Rescue Team this year.
There’s a bit of an update on the wayward sea lion who made national news earlier this year when he wandered onto a busy San Diego freeway. After his return to sea, the animal, lovingly called “Freeway,” was found months later in a storm drain miles from the ocean. That marked his third rescue, and he was kept at SeaWorld for observation.
He’s been found in dangerous places. So, for his own safety, he’s staying at SeaWorld, Smith said.
Freeway is now an ambassador, helping SeaWorld educate people about sea lions.
“He is a great animal, and we can share his story,” she said.